Stephen Rakes, who was at one point expected to be a key witness in the trial of James "Whitey" Bulger, was found dead on Mill Street in Lincoln, according to the Middlesex District Attorney.
The cause of death has not yet been determined. The state medical examiner is conducting an autopsy, the results of which are pending toxicology, which could take up to several weeks to complete, according to a press release from the DA's office.
Rakes' body was found on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m with no obvious signs of trauma, authorities said.
Rakes, 59, of Quincy, was set to testify against Bulger, who said that his liquor store in South Boston was taken from him in 1983 by Steven "The Rifleman" Flemmi. Flemmi took the stand in the Bulger trial on Thursday.
Rakes was taken off the witness list in the Bulger trial on Tuesday, after the court heard testimony from Bulger associate Kevin Weeks, according to friends of Rakes.
On July 8, outside the Moakley Courthouse, Rakes told reporters that Weeks had lied on the witness stand and that he planned to tell his story in court soon.
Read more about Rakes here.
