A once intended witness to testify in infamous Boston mobster White Bulger’s federal trial, Stephen Rakes was eerily killed by cyanide poisoning prior to ever taking the stand as if pulled straight from a Scorsese flick. Suspicion naturally ensued with many wondering if somehow Bulger could still exert his criminal power from behind bars, but it turned out the death had nothing to do with the case. Just today, it was confirmed by officials that Rakes met his demise by way of cyanide poisoning.

“The medical examiner’s office concluded that Stephen Rakes, 59, of Quincy,Mass., died of acute cyanide toxicity in July and ruled his death a homicide, according to MaryBeth Long, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney’s office,” as noted by the Associated Press.

The prosecution alleges that an associate of Rakes, William Camuti, owed Rakes a sum of money for reasons unknown,  poisoning the victims large ice from Dunks and driving Rakes’s body around for hours before leaving it in the suburban woods of Lincoln

The AP continues to note that Rakes was killed just one day after learning he’d been summoned to testify, momentarily adding a theatrical intrigue to the entire case.

Camuti has since been charged with attempted murder and “the district attorney’s office intends to file additional charges against Camuti based on the new findings by the medical examiner.”