Rakes claimed that Bulger forced him to hand over his liquor store to him

Jul 19, 2013 07:59 GMT  ·  By

A man who was getting ready to testify against mob boss Whitey Bulger has been found dead. 59 year-old Stephen "Stippo" Rakes' remains were found near a walking trail in Lincoln.

The body was discovered near the trail located off Mill Street on Wednesday, July 17. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lincoln police Chief Kevin Mooney tells the Boston Globe that the cause of death is not known yet.

An autopsy has been performed and it revealed no signs of trauma. Authorities are now waiting for the result of toxicology tests, which may take a while.

According to the New York Daily News, Massachusetts police originally suggested that he committed suicide.

“He was looking forward to testifying. He thought he had a lot to say and it would be a big impact on the case,” friend Steven Davis argued yesterday. Davis' sister was allegedly killed by Bulger.

“I can assure you my ex-husband did not commit suicide,” the victim’s ex-wife Julie Dammers states.

Davis has described that Rakes was in protective custody and he was being guarded at all times.

“He wasn’t looking over his shoulder ... he knew he was secure, Whitey was locked up and he was safe from him.

“It brings you back to the early 1980s. People were getting extorted; people were getting murdered. It does make you think,” he notes.

Police now believe that the witness was killed somewhere else and that his body was dropped off on Mill St.

“I know you have to let the facts come out and give authorities a chance to do work, but the timing, the circumstances, and knowing what I do about him, it leaves a lot of questions,” Rakes' attorney in a civil suit, Paul V. Kelly, details.

Rakes had accused Bulger of forcing him to sign over the deed to his liquor store by threatening the life of his 1-year-old daughter with a gun.