A man suspected of murdering a rock singer in Detroit more than 30 years ago has been arrested in Panama, the US Marshals Service has confirmed. Richard Werstine, 56, was taken into custody at a dog park in Panama City on 29 April after decades on the run. He is accused of killing Rodney Barger, the vocalist of the hardcore punk band Cold as Life.
Investigators say Barger, 23, was Werstine's roommate and close friend when Werstine allegedly shot him in the head as he slept inside their Detroit residence on 15 September 1993. Detroit police detained Werstine days after the murder, but he never appeared for trial proceedings. A warrant for his arrest was issued in June 1994.
At the time of his arrest, Werstine was carrying fake identification, but fingerprint testing confirmed his identity. Officials said he had been arrested multiple times over the years using different aliases, though his real identity remained unknown. After his apprehension, he confessed to being on the run and admitted entering Panama illegally in 2005.
Chief Deputy Marshal Jimmy Allen said: 'His 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.' A federal source described Werstine as 'a ghost since '94' who was 'very cunning, very crafty while on the run.'
Barger, also known by the stage name Rawn Beauty, helped form Cold as Life in 1988. Revolver magazine once referred to him as a 'fabled wild-man' whose 'talents as a belligerent vocalist and underclass poet remain obvious.' The US Marshals Service had taken over Werstine's case in May 2022, coordinating with Panamanian authorities to track him down.
