A Michigan fugitive accused of murdering his best friend and rock singer roommate has been apprehended in Panama after evading law enforcement for three decades. Richard Werstine, 56, was captured at a dog park in Panama City, Panama, on April 29, according to the US Marshals Service. He had been on the run since the alleged killing of Rodney Barner, 23, frontman of the band Cold as Life, inside their Detroit home on September 15, 1993.
Capture and Identification
Werstine, who had used several aliases including Joseph Alan Stavros, was found in possession of fraudulent identification. Authorities confirmed his identity through fingerprint scanning. Barner, also known by his stage name Rawn Beauty, was fatally shot in the head while asleep. The singer was described as a "fabled wild-man vocalist" whose antics inspired many of the band's songs, as reported by Revolver Magazine.
History on the Run
Werstine was initially arrested shortly after the murder but failed to appear in court for his trial, instead fleeing the area. A warrant for his arrest was issued in June 1994. The motive for the 1993 murder has not been disclosed, and officials have not indicated whether additional charges will be filed. "He was a ghost since '94," a source told WDIV. "He was very cunning, very crafty while on the run." US Marshal Assistant Chief Deputy James Allen added, "He's a liar. He's believed what he said and had a whole new life."
Despite being arrested multiple times in Michigan, Arizona, and elsewhere on arson and gun charges, Werstine evaded detection by using alternate names. In May 2022, the US Marshals Service adopted the warrant for failure to appear on a murder charge. Through investigation, they discovered that Werstine had been arrested multiple times under different aliases without his true identity being revealed.
Extradition and Accountability
Officials tracked Werstine to Panama City before his arrest in April. After being taken into custody, he admitted to using a fake name and living illegally in Panama since 2005, never obtaining legal status. "He had roots in Panama and kinda just lived a new life, and I think he thought that he would never be caught," Allen said. "He 100% thought he was never gonna be found. Fingerprints don't lie."
US Marshals officials traveled to Panama on May 9 to extradite Werstine to the United States, where he will be booked into jail in Wayne County, Michigan. "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," Allen stated. "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."
