Richard Werstine, a fugitive wanted for shooting a rock vocalist in his sleep three decades ago, was arrested in Panama City on April 29 after evading law enforcement since 1993.
Werstine, now 56, was taken into custody at a dog park while carrying forged identification. Fingerprint analysis confirmed his identity. He is accused of killing Rodney Barger, the 23-year-old vocalist for the hardcore punk band Cold as Life, on September 15, 1993, in their shared Detroit home.
According to the US Marshals Service, Werstine shot Barger in the head while he slept. Police detained Werstine days after the shooting, but he never appeared for trial. A warrant was issued in June 1994.
For nearly three decades, Werstine operated under assumed names, getting arrested multiple times without authorities realizing his true identity. "He was a ghost since '94," a federal source told WDIV. "He was very cunning, very crafty while on the run."
Werstine admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005 and never obtaining legal status in the country. He confessed to living as a fugitive after his arrest.
The case gained momentum last May when the US Marshals Service formally took over the fugitive investigation. The Detroit fugitive apprehension team coordinated with the Marshals' international operations division and Panamanian authorities to track him down.
Chief Deputy Marshal Jimmy Allen said the arrest demonstrated the agency's commitment to accountability. "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," Allen said.
Barger, who performed under the stage name Rawn Beauty, co-founded Cold as Life in 1988. Revolver magazine once called him a "fabled wild-man" whose abilities as a vocalist and poet were unmistakable. Officials have not disclosed a motive for the killing.
Author James Rodriguez: "Three decades on the run only to get caught at a dog park, a reminder that fugitives rarely stay invisible forever, no matter how careful they think they're being."
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