Man Accused of Detroit Rocker’s 1993 Murder Captured in Panama After Decades on the Run

More than 30 years after a Detroit man disappeared while awaiting trial for murder, federal authorities say they have finally found him thousands of miles away, living under an assumed identity in Panama.

The U.S. Marshals Service said 56-year-old Richard Werstine, who accused of killing his roommate Rodney Barger, 23, in September 1993, was arrested late last month in Panama City, bringing an end to a decades-long search that spanned multiple aliases, countries, and investigative dead ends.

Barger was known at the time for being the frontman of rock band Cold as Life. Werstine had initially been arrested days after the killing but failed to appear for trial, prompting a warrant for his arrest in June 1994.

For years, authorities believed Werstine had vanished. It wasn’t until 2022 that the U.S. Marshals Service formally took over the case, reopening the search with updated investigative tools and renewed focus. Officials say that over time, they uncovered evidence suggesting Werstine had been arrested multiple times under different names, though his true identity had never been confirmed.

The break came after investigators began tracing leads that pointed to Panama. Working with the agency’s Office of International Operations and local authorities, the Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team narrowed their search to Panama City, where Werstine had been living for years.

On April 29, Panamanian authorities arrested him at a local dog park without incident. He was carrying fraudulent identification at the time, officials said, but fingerprint analysis confirmed his identity. According to the Marshals Service, Werstine later admitted who he was and acknowledged that he had been on the run since the 1990s. He also told investigators he had entered Panama illegally in 2005 and never obtained legal status.

U.S. Marshals deputies traveled to Panama days later to take custody of Werstine, working alongside agents from the Diplomatic Security Service and Homeland Security Investigations. He has since been returned to the United States, where he will face proceedings in Wayne County, Mich.

The arrest closes one of the longest-running fugitive cases tied to Detroit, and officials said it serves as a reminder of the agency’s long memory.

“The U.S. Marshals Service takes crimes of this nature extremely seriously given the violent nature of the alleged offense and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution,” said Owen Cypher, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan. “The dedication of all members of my staff who spearheaded the arrest of this fugitive who has been on the run for over 30 years is a testimony to their resolve. It sends a message to fugitives that there is no place you can hide that the U.S. Marshals Service won’t find you and bring you to justice.”

For Barger’s family, the case now moves from decades of uncertainty toward a long-delayed day in court.

“The tenacity and commitment of the United States 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,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Allen. “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.”