A Michigan man who had evaded capture for over 30 years after allegedly murdering his punk-rock singer roommate has finally been apprehended, officials announced.
The U.S. Marshals Service revealed that Richard Werstine, also known by the alias Joseph Alan Stavros, 56, was detained in Panama City, Panama, in April.
Authorities had been pursuing Werstine in connection with the alleged slaying of his 23-year-old roommate, Rodney Barger, which took place in Detroit on September 15, 1993.
Rodney Barger was a vocalist for the punk band Cold as Life, as reported by the Detroit Metro Times.
Richard Werstine is charged with the murder of his roommate, Rodney Barger, in Detroit, Michigan, on September 15, 1993. (U.S. Marshals Service)
According to federal officials, Werstine was initially arrested just days after the murder but subsequently failed to attend his trial, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest in 1994.
“He was a ghost since ‘94,” a federal source told Local 4. “He was very cunning, very crafty while on the run.”
Richard Werstine was arrested in Panama City, Panama, and extradited to the United States on April 29, 2026, according to officials. (U.S. Marshals Service)
He allegedly remained on the lam for several years, and in 2022 the USMS adopted the arrest warrant after investigators learned he had been arrested several times under different aliases while he continued to evade authorities.
“Over the course of the investigation, the USMS utilized state-of-the-art investigative resources and techniques and devoted numerous hours in efforts to find the fugitive,” federal officials said.
Richard Werstine admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005, according to federal authorities. (iStock)
The investigation led authorities to arrest Werstine at a dog park in Panama City on April 29, 2026.
Upon being taken into custody, officials said Werstine confessed to his true identity after he was allegedly found with fraudulent documentation and admitted to entering Panama illegally in 2005.
He was subsequently extradited from Panama to the United States and handed over to Wayne County officials.
“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,” Chief Deputy U.S. 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.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Marshals Service for comment.
