Stephen "Stippo" Rakes, a key witness in the murder trial of James "Whitey" Bulger, has been found dead on Wednesday.
Rakes had been scheduled to take the witness stand to testify against Bulger, who was arrested two years ago and is standing trial for his murderous crimes.
Authorities to not know how Rakes died as of yet but an autopsy is underway to determined the casue of death.
The 59-year-old had no obvious signs of trauma on his body when he was found yesterday at 1:30 p.m. on Mill Street in Lincoln.
Rakes claimed that he and his young daughter were threatened by Bulger, who convinced him at gunpoint to sell his liquor store in South Boston below market value in 1984 so that his Winter Hill gang could use it as a front.
However, Rakes' former associate Kevin Weeks testified last week that Bulger's gang did not pull a gun to Rakes' daughter's head and that Rakes had wanted to sell the shop and was trying to get more money from the gang, which resulted in a confrontation involving guns.
Bulger, 83, was one of America's most wanted fugitives and had been on the lam for 16 years.
Police reportedly told Rakes' family that his death appeared to be a suicide. However, Rakes' longtime friend Steve Davis told ABC News: "Stippo would not kill himself. Absolutely not. He was looking forward to taking the stand. He told me over and over he had a big bombshell to drop. He had everything to live for and was looking forward to his day in court. It doesn't make sense."
