Man Accused Of Killing Cold As Life Vocalist Rodney “Rawn Beauty” Barger Captured In Panama After Decades On The Run

A man accused of murdering Rodney Barger, better known as “Rawn Beauty” of Cold As Life, has reportedly been apprehended more than three decades after initially fleeing prosecution.

According to a report from The Detroit News, Richard Werstine — who was arrested in 1993 as the primary suspect in Barger’s killing — was tracked down in Panama last month by the U.S. Marshals Service Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team. Authorities allege Werstine failed to appear for trial following his original arrest and had remained a fugitive ever since.

Investigators claim Werstine had been living in Panama under an assumed identity since 2005. A separate U.S. Marshals investigation also reportedly found that he had been arrested multiple times over the years while using various aliases.

Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Jimmy Allen stated:

“The tenacity and commitment of the U.S. 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. 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.”

Werstine has since been transferred from Panamanian custody to U.S. Marshals custody in the United States.

Cold As Life originally formed in 1988 and became one of the most influential names in Midwestern hardcore before disbanding in 2001. The group reunited in 2015 and has remained active in the years since.

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