Camuti Indicted on Charges in Rakes Death

William Camuti, 69, of Sudbury, was indicted today by a Middlesex Grand Jury on charges of attempted murder, misleading police, and unlawful disposition of human remains, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced.

An arraignment date in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn has not yet been scheduled.

The body of Quincy resident Stephen Rakes, 59, was discovered at 1:30 p.m. on July 17 in a wooded area off Mill Street in Lincoln. There was no identification, keys or cell phone on him at the time.    

Lincoln Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office immediately launched an investigation. 

The cause of Rakes' death has yet to be determined, hence the attempted murder charge. 

Surveillance video showed Rakes leaving the Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse the afternoon of July 16, where he had been regularly attending the trial of Whitey Bulger. He appeared to be wearing the same clothing when his body was found.

The investigation showed Camuti and Rakes had a longstanding business relationship. Prosecutors have said Camuti allegedly owed Rakes a significant amount of money which Rakes was attempting to collect.

Camuti allegedly met the victim around 1:45 p.m. at McDonald’s on Main Street in Waltham on July 16.  

In court hearings, prosecutors said Camuti purchased two iced coffees, one of which he had allegedly laced with potassium cyanide. He gave that drink Rakes, who drank from it. 

Camuti then drove for several hours until Rakes died in his car.

Camuti allegedly dumped Rakes' body in Lincoln where it was found the next day.

After an investigation, Camuti was arrested Aug. 2.  He was arraigned in Concord District Court, where he was held without bail following a dangerousness hearing.

The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Lincoln Police.