Fugitive Arrested After 30 Years on the Run

A man from Michigan, wanted for allegedly murdering his best friend and roommate, has been apprehended after evading authorities for over three decades by living as a “ghost” in Central America.

Richard Werstein, 56, was captured on April 29 at a dog park in Panama City. He had been a fugitive since he reportedly shot Rodney Varner, the 23-year-old frontman of the band Called as Life, in his Detroit home on September 15, 1993. Reports indicate that his capture was made possible by the US Marshals Service.

Throughout his time on the run, Werstein used various aliases, including Joseph Alan Stavros. He was found with fake identification documents, and authorities identified him through fingerprint analysis.

Varner, who also went by the stage name Lone Beauty, was shot in the head while he slept. He was known for his wild antics, which inspired many of his band’s songs.

Interestingly, shortly after the incident, Werstein was arrested but chose to flee before facing trial. A warrant for his arrest was issued in June 1994, but the motive behind the murder remains unclear.

Authorities have not disclosed whether there will be additional charges against Werstein. “He’s been a ghost since ’94,” a report stated, noting his cunning ability to evade capture.

While he was arrested multiple times for various crimes in states like Michigan and Arizona, Werstein managed to escape detection by using different names. In May 2022, the US Marshals took on the case after he failed to appear in court, revealing his previous arrests under aliases that kept his real identity hidden from law enforcement.

Investigators eventually tracked him down in Panama City, where he had been living illegally since 2005, according to his own admission after arrest. “I think he thought he could start over and would never be caught,” noted a deputy U.S. Marshal.

After his capture, it became clear that he had been living a shadowy existence, completely unaware that his fingerprints would ultimately lead to his identification. U.S. Marshals flew to Panama on May 9 to bring him back to the U.S., where he will be held in a Michigan jail.

A photo released from the U.S. Marshals showed Werstein being taken to an airport. Their commitment to capturing fugitives like him highlights their mission to ensure justice for victims’ families and protect the community.