BOSTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Medical examiners said a former associate of reputed Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger died of acute cyanide toxicity, ruling the death a homicide.
Stephen "Stippo" Rakes died in July the same day he was dropped from the prosecution witness list in the Bulger trial. He reportedly had been eager to describe for the jury how Bulger extorted money from him at gunpoint while his daughters watched.