Richard Werstine, a 56-year-old fugitive accused of killing his punk rock singer roommate Rodney Barger in Detroit in 1993, was arrested in Panama City, Panama, on April 29, 2026. The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed the arrest, marking the end of a 33-year manhunt.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Werstine, who used multiple aliases, including Joseph Alan Stavros, was taken into custody without incident at a dog park in Panama. He was found with fraudulent identification, and a fingerprint analysis confirmed his identity. Werstine admitted to being on the run and entering Panama illegally in 2005.
Deeper Dive & Context
Background of the Case
Werstine was initially arrested shortly after Barger’s murder but failed to appear for trial, leading to a 1994 arrest warrant. He evaded authorities for decades, using aliases and avoiding detection. Challenges in the Investigation
Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Allen noted that tracking fugitives was more difficult in the 1990s due to limited internet access and fingerprint databases. The U.S. Marshals Service took over the case in 2022, employing state-of-the-art investigative techniques to locate Werstine. Werstine’s History of Arrests
Despite being a fugitive, Werstine was arrested multiple times under different names. In 1999, he was shot during a confrontation with police in Flagstaff, Arizona, leaving him with a permanent injury. Extradition and Legal Process
Werstine is now awaiting a court hearing in Detroit. The U.S. Marshals Service credited their tenacity and commitment for his capture, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in apprehending fugitives.