3 weeks ago
A fishy accused of murdering his stone vocalist friend successful 1993 has been apprehended successful Central America aft spending much than 30 years successfully evading authorities.
According to nan US marshals service, Richard Werstine, who was wanted successful relationship pinch nan sidesplitting of Cold arsenic Life vocalist Rodney Barger, was arrested successful Panama.
Investigators opportunity Barger, who was 23 years old, was Werstine’s roommate and adjacent friend erstwhile Werstine allegedly changeable him successful nan caput arsenic he slept wrong their Detroit residence connected 15 September 1993.
Authorities said Werstine, now 56, was taken into custody astatine a canine parkland successful Panama City, Panama, connected 29 April aft decades arsenic a fugitive pursuing nan alleged execution of Barger. Officials besides said he was carrying clone recognition astatine nan clip of his arrest, but fingerprint testing later confirmed his identity.
Detroit constabulary first detained Werstine conscionable days aft Barger’s death, but officials opportunity he ne'er showed up for proceedings proceedings. A warrant for his apprehension was issued successful June 1994.
“The tenacity and committedness of nan US marshals work moving to bring Werstine and those for illustration him into constabulary custody wherever they beryllium is astatine nan forefront of our regular ngo present successful Detroit,” main lawman marshal Jimmy Allen said successful a statement.
Allen added: “His apprehension not only useful toward bringing closure to nan friends and family who person mislaid a loved 1 but besides demonstrates our committedness to prosecute those who deliberation they tin prey connected nan members of our communities without being held accountable.”
In May 2022, nan US marshals assumed work for Werstine’s lawsuit related to his nonaccomplishment to look connected execution charges. During nan investigation, authorities learned he had been arrested aggregate times complete nan years while utilizing different aliases, though his existent personality had remained unknown.
“He was a shade since ’94,” a national root told WDIV. “He was very cunning, very crafty while connected nan run.”
After his apprehension, Werstine confessed to being connected nan tally from authorities, nan outlet reported. He besides reportedly said he had entered Panama illegally successful 2005 and admitted to ne'er obtaining ineligible status.
Officials person not disclosed a motive successful nan 1993 killing.
Over nan past year, nan Detroit fugitive apprehension squad pursued respective investigative leads and coordinated pinch nan US marshals service’s world operations section on pinch Panamanian authorities to way down Werstine.
Barger, besides known by nan shape arsenic Rawn Beauty, helped shape nan hardcore punk set Cold arsenic Life successful 1988. Revolver mag erstwhile referred to him arsenic a “fabled wild-man” whose “talents arsenic a belligerent vocalist and underclass writer stay obvious”.
