Fugitive tied to decades-old slaying of punk rocker roommate caught in tropical hot spot: feds

A Michigan antheral connected the tally for implicit 3 decades aft allegedly sidesplitting his punk-rock vocalist roommate has been captured, officials said.

Richard Werstine, who besides went by the sanction Joseph Alan Stavros, 56, was arrested successful Panama City, Panama, successful April, the U.S. Marshals Service said successful a quality release. 

Werstine was sought by authorities for the alleged execution of his roommate, 23-year-old Rodney Barger, successful Detroit connected Sept. 15, 1993. 

At the clip of his death, Barger was a vocalist for the punk set Cold arsenic Life, according to the Detroit Metro Times.

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Richard Werstine is accused of sidesplitting his roommate, Rodney Barger, successful Detroit, Mich., connected Sept. 15, 1993. (U.S. Marshals Service)

Federal authorities said Werstine was arrested conscionable days aft the alleged execution but failed to look for his proceedings — prompting an apprehension warrant to beryllium issued successful 1994. 

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"He was a shade since ‘94," a national root told Local 4. "He was precise cunning, precise crafty portion connected the run."

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Richard Werstine was arrested successful Panama City, Panama, and extradited to the United States connected April 29, 2026, according to officials. (U.S. Marshals Service)

He allegedly remained connected the lam for respective years, and successful 2022 the USMS adopted the apprehension warrant aft investigators learned helium had been arrested respective times nether antithetic aliases portion helium continued to evade authorities.

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"Over the people of the investigation, the USMS utilized state-of-the-art investigative resources and techniques and devoted galore hours successful efforts to find the fugitive," national officials said.

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Richard Werstine admitted to entering Panama illegally successful 2005, according to national authorities. (iStock)

The probe led authorities to apprehension Werstine astatine a canine parkland successful Panama City connected April 29, 2026. 

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Upon being taken into custody, officials said Werstine confessed to his existent individuality aft helium was allegedly recovered with fraudulent documentation and admitted to entering Panama illegally successful 2005.

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He was subsequently extradited from Panama to the United States and handed implicit to Wayne County officials. 

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"The tenacity and committedness of the United States Marshals Service moving to bring Werstine and those similar him into constabulary custody wherever they beryllium is astatine the forefront of our regular ngo present successful Detroit," Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Allen said.

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"His apprehension not lone works toward bringing closure to the friends and household who person mislaid a loved 1 but besides demonstrates our committedness to prosecute those who deliberation they tin prey connected the members of our communities without being held accountable."

Fox News Digital reached retired to the U.S. Marshals Service for comment.