Fugitive In 1993 Detroit Roommate Killing Caught In Panama City
Richard Werstine, wanted on a 1994 warrant in the 1993 killing of his Detroit roommate, was arrested at a Panama City, Panama, dog park and extradited to the United States to face a murder charge.[1]
Marshals say Werstine admitted his identity at the time of arrest and told officers he entered Panama illegally in 2005.[1] The U.S. Marshals Service adopted the 1994 warrant in 2022 after learning he had been arrested under aliases.[1] He was extradited to the United States and turned over to Wayne County prosecutors to face the decades-old murder charge.[1]
On September 15, 1993, vocalist Rodney Barger, 23, was killed in Detroit; Werstine was arrested shortly after the killing but failed to appear for trial, prompting the 1994 arrest warrant.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- On September 15, 1993, vocalist Rodney Barger, 23, was killed in Detroit; roommate Richard Werstine was charged in the case.
- Werstine was arrested shortly after the 1993 killing but failed to appear for trial, leading to a 1994 arrest warrant.
- The U.S. Marshals Service adopted the warrant in 2022 after learning Werstine had been arrested under aliases.
- Marshals arrested Werstine at a dog park in Panama City, Panama, on April 29, 2026, where he admitted his identity and illegal 2005 entry into Panama.
- He was extradited to the United States on April 29, 2026 and turned over to Wayne County authorities to face the decades-old murder charge.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time