Cold As Life: Fugitive Arrested in Panama for 1993 Murder of Original Frontman Rawn Beuty
Richard Werstine, a fugitive for decades, has been apprehended in Panama for the 1993 murder of Rawn Beuty, the original frontman of Detroit hardcore band Cold As Life.
Rodney Barner, known as Rawn Beuty, was the charismatic frontman of Cold As Life, a band synonymous with the raw energy of the Detroit hardcore scene in the late '80s and early '90s. His life was tragically cut short in 1993 when he was murdered at the age of 23.
Richard Werstine, Barner's friend and roommate, was the prime suspect, but he evaded justice for nearly three decades after failing to appear for his trial.
According to The Guardian, the 56-year-old Werstine was arrested on Apr. 29. The US Marshals Service claims that Werstine was carrying fake identification at the time of his arrest but that he was identified through fingerprint records. Werstine reportedly admitted to his true identity and his fugitive status, saying that he's been in Panama illegally since 2005. Federal authorities then returned Werstine to the US and turned him over to Wayne County authorities.
After Barner's death, Cold As Life continued, solidifying their reputation with intense live performances. Jeff Gunnells, the band's co-founder, stepped into the frontman role and in 1998, they unleashed their debut album Born To Land Hard. Notably, the album's artwork featured Werstine's face on a wanted poster, a stark reminder of the unresolved case. Gunnells faced his own legal troubles, serving time for a 2012 armed robbery, but has since returned to performing with Cold As Life, headlining San Jose's RBS Fest last month.
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