A body believed to be that of Stephen Rakes, a key witness in the trial of alleged Boston mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger has been found dead, authorities confirmed Thursday, the Huffington Post reported. Rakes, who accused Bulger of extorting him out of of his liquor store was discovered in Lincoln Massachusetts.
"There were no obvious signs of trauma. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death," according to a statement from the Middlesex district attorney's office.
Rakes was an important witness, and one of Bulger's alleged victims. He reportedly waited years to testify against Bulger, saying "people don't understand the fear that was on the streets," he recalled.
Bulger is accused of 19 murders and an assortment of other charges.
Rakes, who was 59, had said he lost his South Boston liquor store in 1985 when Bulger and Stephen 'The Rifleman' Flemmi barged into his home, placing a gun on his kitchen table and demanded that he sell them the business.
Bulger, who is from South Boston and was with the Winter Hill Gang. He helped builda criminal organization that made millions by controlling and extorting bookmakers, drug dealers and loan sharks. He later became an FBI informant, and provided information on his rival Mafia men.
