Fugitive Captured in Panama

Richard Werstine, accused of murdering his friend and Cold as Life vocalist Rodney Barger, was arrested in Panama City on 29 April; the US Marshals Service confirmed the capture after Werstine spent over 30 years evading authorities.

Accused of Shooting Singer in 1993

According to investigators, Werstine allegedly shot Barger in the head as he slept inside their Detroit residence on 15 September 1993 — Barger, who was 23 at the time, was both a roommate and close friend to Werstine.

Authorities said Werstine, now 56, was apprehended at a dog park in Panama City. Officials noted he was using fake identification at the time of his arrest, but fingerprint testing later confirmed his identity. A warrant for his arrest had been issued in June 1994 after he failed to appear for trial proceedings.

Chief deputy marshal Jimmy Allen praised the efforts of the US Marshals Service in a statement. He said, “The tenacity and commitment of the US Marshals Service working to bring Werstine and those like him into police custody where they belong is at the forefront of our daily mission here in Detroit.”

Allen added that the arrest “not only works toward bringing closure to the friends and family who have lost a loved one but also demonstrates our promise to pursue those who think they can prey on the members of our communities without being held accountable.”

Long Pursuit and Multiple Aliases

In May 2022, the marshals assumed responsibility for Werstine’s case related to his failure to appear on murder charges. During the investigation, authorities discovered that he had been arrested multiple times over the years while using different aliases, though his real identity had remained unknown.

A federal source told WDIV, “He was a ghost since ’94. He was very cunning, very crafty while on the run.”

After his arrest, Werstine reportedly confessed to being on the run from authorities. He admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005 and said he never obtained legal status. Officials have not disclosed a motive for the 1993 killing.

Over the past year, the Detroit fugitive apprehension team pursued several investigative leads and coordinated with the US Marshals Service’s international operations division along with Panamanian authorities to track down Werstine.

Rock Singer and Band Legacy

Victim Rodney Barger, known by the stage name Rawn Beauty, was a member of the hardcore punk band Cold as Life, which he helped form in 1988. Barger was once described by Revolver magazine as a “fabled wild-man” whose “talents as a belligerent vocalist and underclass poet remain obvious.”