Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Florida Man Ties Up Woman in Office Then Murders Her: Cops

Episode Date: March 16, 2026

75-year-old Ronald Racki faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of Laikyn Marie West, 24. Laikyn's roommate reported her missing in September 2024 when she left their home in Bradenton, Florida, and never returned. Police said they discovered Racki had been talking with Laikyn West for months before her disappearance, and a digital trail led them to believe he murdered her. Laikyn's body has never been found. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through the case in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CRIMEFIX at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/crimefixHost:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's going the other side, sir. All right. Back where you were before. That's Ronald Racky in handcuffs, and he's going to jail after police say he murdered a woman named Lake and West. There is evidence that Ms. West and the suspect were known to each other, and they arranged to have a meeting. But there's more.

Detectives say Racky actually made a statement about murdering for women. I'll tell you when detectives say he made that claim as I go through Racki. his time in the interview room. Okay, listen, listen, careful. The cops pulled me over and arrested. They're going to arrest me this morning. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy, and this is Crime Fix. You know, you really have to be careful when you're on the web.

You have to do everything you can to protect your personal information. If you go on the web and search yourself, you'll find sometimes that your name and your phone number, even your address, it's all floating around the internet for data brokers to sell or scammers to steal. Our sponsor in Cogni lets you take back control. They find which data brokers have your info and demand they remove it. When I signed up, they found more than 50 brokers with my data and within days, it started disappearing. Setup takes just minutes. You create an account, authorizing Cogni to act for you, and they do the rest. And with their new unlimited plans custom removals feature, you can submit custom links where your data shows up and a team of

privacy experts will remove it for you. So if you care about your online safety and you really should take your data back with incogny, use code crime fix for 60% off an annual plan. When Lake and Marie West disappeared in September 2024, her roommate became very worried. It wasn't like the 24-year-old to leave and just not come home. Three days went by and then the roommate called police in Venice, Florida, south of Sarasota, to report Lakin missing. It would take more than a year of investigation before Ronald Racky was charged with second-degree murder in Lake and West's death. Back where you were before, just like before, be careful getting in. Use a step if you need to.

Might maybe slide your leg in, however. Is it cold in here, do you? Yes, it is. All right, so I'll try to get the air off back here. I know it's like stale, everything's metal and plastic. I hear you. Thank you. Yeah. You got you put this up in there? All right. Thank you, brother.

To this day, Laken West's remains have not been found. Local police have been working with federal agents to find her. But to understand how we got to this point, we have to go back to September 2024 when Laken was reported missing. As I mentioned, it wasn't like Lakin to leave for a few days, and she even missed a planned flight out of state. That led Venice police to pull Lakin's phone records and they noticed that she had been talking with a man named Ronald Racky many times from May 31st,

2024 to the day that she went missing in September of 2024. A probable cause affidavit stated, on September 13, 2024, call detail records show connected calls between Racky and West from 739 to 815 hours. Detective Kells contacted Racki, who stated he would meet West and pay her for sexual favor. Racky admitted that on September 13, 2024, he picked up West at her Bradenton residence, drove her to Venice for lunch, and later drove her back to Bradenton. He described West as acting flaky on the drive back to Bradenton. Racky also said that West asked him to stop to purchase drugs, but claimed that he declined to do so, explaining he does not allow drugs in his car. Racky said he dropped Miss West on Fifth Street in East.

Breedenton. Detective Kells compared Rackie's account to sell hawk analysis of West's phone activity and conducted a canvas in the area of her alleged drop-off. No witnesses reported seeing West in the area. None of Rackie's registered vehicles have been captured by license plate readers in the area of Miss West's alleged drop-off. Her phone records show that as she was en route to Venice, her last answered call took place at 927 hours. There is no outgoing. activity on West's phone after that time, despite several incoming unanswered calls. All of this information was very concerning to detectives. No one had seen Laken West, and detectives felt Ronald Racky's story wasn't lining up with the evidence they had uncovered.

Nearly three months would pass with no sign of Lakin West. Then detectives found a journal that Lakin kept, and that journal contained some revealing information. The information was damning when compared to other evidence. So detectives went back to Ronald Racky and confronted him. On December 19, 24, Racky met with Detective Kells at the Bradenton Police Department. Post Miranda, Kells confronted Racky with West's journal entry referencing chloroform in the journal. She wrote that a man paid her $950 to allow him to chloroform her during sex. Racky told Kells that West fantasized about sex, using his. chloroform, restraints, and a simulated rape. He went on to say that he never really chloroformed

her, but admitted that he possessed chloroform and used it to clean car seats. He denied paying $950 as referenced in West Journal entry. He admitted that on September 13th that he drove West back to Bradenton from Venice in his blue truck, she performed full fallatio on him. Racky acknowledged to Cal's there were red flags in his story. and agreed that he might be lying to protect himself and his family. Racky admitted that he was the last person to see West alive. He suggested that West may have overdosed or had a medical condition and speculated that she disposed of her phone.

Following the interview, the Venice Police Department secured Racky's office. Detectives didn't just search Racky's office. They also seized his cell phone. And what detectives said they found on his phone sounded familiar. The detectives wrote, on December 20th, 2024, Racky's phone was searched pursuant to a warrant. On the phone, detectives found photographs of West bound with handcuffs and cable ties lying naked on Racky's office desk. West is also pictured clothed, wearing blue jeans, black underwear, and bra, and a white slash red orange tank top. Hypolyermic needles are visible near the computer keyboard. The metadata shows one

photo was taken on September 13th, 2024 at 9.59 hours. Racki's phone contained similar photos taken on September 7th, 2024, of West, bound in his office. In addition, Racky's phone shows searches for violent pornography and snuff-themed content in temporal proximity to the photographs of West on September 13th, 2024. Detectives wrote that on the same day they searched Racky's phone and found the photos of Lake and West bound in his office. Ronald Racky tried to end his life by cutting his wrists and overdosing. Racky's attempt was unsuccessful and he was kept in the hospital for a time and police said he made a statement while hospitalized about committing other murders. The affidavit states medical records obtained pursuant to a warrant reflect a nurse's note at

2.30 hours on December 26, 2024, in which RACI reportedly said, I killed four women six weeks ago. The RN's notes states that RACI was otherwise oriented. The statement is documented as part of medical care, but there is no independent corroboration that other victims exist. That statement had to peak the interest of the detectives, but again, they say they don't have evidence that other victims exist. And there was more evidence that the detectives found suspicious about Racky's truck and a detailing they said he had done in September 2024. A man named Charles stated he deep cleaned a blue pickup truck for Racky around the September 13th, 2024 time frame and saw a suspicious stain on the truck's rear floor. Charles reported smelling an unusual odor in the truck

and noted that the water from the steam cleaner turned an odd color as he cleaned the back floorboard. Racky paid cash for the cleaning and Charles was unable to produce any written documentation for his services. Charles also recalled seeing Ms. West in the area at some point, but did not see her with Racky. On February 20th, 20, 26, well after a year after Lake and West vanished, detectives brought in Ronald Racky for another round of questioning. We can take them off. We just needed them for the ride. Don't worry about that. We got a book twice the size of a phone book for rules we got to follow. It's exhausting sometimes.

Rackie sits for more than 10 minutes waiting for police to return. Good morning. Good morning. Got your water? Thank you. Need to use the bathroom at all? Actually, I do. All right, let's do it.

To the right over here. Right here? Yep, right in there. I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I do. After the trip to the restroom is taken care of, the detectives and Ronald Racky settle in for a little chat. One of the things that I want to tell you is that we've been doing this a long time, me and Kells. We've been doing this job a long time.

All we want to do is help people. Our main goal is to answer the questions that need to be answered. That's what our main priority is. When we first talk to you, you told a lot of half-truths to us, okay? And I just want to let you know that him and I are the most fair people in this profession. You do it with anyone else, they will hang you. So we are your best chance to help you. So from here on now, whatever we discuss, the truth will taste a lot better coming out.

Okay? Sure. All right. Before you ask any questions, okay? I just want to go over some stuff with you, okay? Yes. All right. So you've done this before and again, the only way that we can answer your questions is to make sure we go through a couple things, okay?

All right. Are you hungry at all? No, sir. You had something to you already? I haven't. Okay. All right, Ron, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law?

You have the right to talk to an attorney and have him or her present with you before and during questioning. If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you and no cost to you before and during questioning if you wish. You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand each of these rights? of these rights I have explained to you? I do. Okay, having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to us now? My attorney advised me of not to speak to your gentleman. Okay. Ronald Racky asked for a lawyer, so the interview ends before it really begins. So just know that I can't answer any of your question. No, that's what he said. I thought this was all getting cleared up. Who's your

attorney? Eric Risinger. Okay. You still, you still talk to him? Not enough, not in a, not in a Not in a little while, no. Okay. So I can't, I, unfortunately, I can't answer any of your questions. Understood, yeah. As long as my briefcase is out of the car, there's money and there's titles in there. Yep, everything will be safe kept. Okay.

Can I call my wife? She worries a lot. Yeah, we'll make that happen. So Ronald Racky is left to sit in the interview in silence. For nearly an hour, he waits, and then a detective comes back to the room. I just got to do, still doing some paperwork. Okay. And I go to, you got your wallet.

Everything, everything else is going to be secured here. Okay, so you don't have to worry about anything being in the loss. How about my griefcase with all the money and stuff? It's going to be safe keep kept here. We took pictures of everything. Okay. And it will be in a locker here. Okay.

Okay. All right, first we'll do your wallet here. Like I said, we haven't touched anything. Okay. All right. Your debit cards are all in here. your ID we're just going to count out the cash together. Okay, I don't even know what was in.

Okay, well just so that we're on the same page. Sure. 200, 20, 40, 60, 80, 300, 300, 340. Okay, okay. And there's no, uh, there's no knives or blades or anything in your, in your wallet? No, sir. Okay. If there is the jail won't take it.

How long do you think before I get my briefcase back I need that for work? I can't say. Okay. I don't know. If I do something, I tell you. I understand. I just got to fill out phone here. All right, so your last name is R-A-C-I, right?

Mm-hmm. Ronald is your proper name? Proper name? That's correct. Okay. And your middle name is? She. Is it Chester?

Yes, sir. Okay. Ronald Racky is going to be charged with second-degree murder in the death of Lake and West, so he won't be going anywhere with his briefcase and money anytime soon. Again, he waits in silence. Eventually, Ronald Racky calls his wife from the interview room. Hey there. You hear me?

Okay. Can you hear me okay? Yeah. Okay, listen. Listen, careful. The cops pulled me over and arrested. They're going to arrest me this morning. You got to call Eric Risinger.

Why? For questioning, I guess. They're still, you know, on this, on that case, it's crazy. I didn't. No, I told them my lawyer advised me not to say anything. So I didn't, okay? Where are they going to bring you? That I don't know.

probably to Sarasota you know carport house just call Eric Risinger and it'll be okay well everything will work out I understood totally understood okay they've find out a couple of things they do have my briefcase and it's got money in it and titles and you know no problem with that might find out where they're gonna take the car so you can get that you know and that's about it I'll know what to tell you know it's crazy it's still ongoing BS, you know, okay. I don't know. They just said, go ahead, call your wife. You can call Eric, call Brian. You can talk to Eric, you know. Okay. All right. So just, all right, just slow down.

Everything will be okay, all right? Okay. Okay, love you, bye. Being in police custody, Ronald Rackie appears cool as a cucumber, as he then takes a call from his son. Hey, there. Hey, what's going on? Well, they pulled me over. because they went through a red light and I guess they're gonna take me in for more questioning I you know didn't answer anything and getting arrested apparently so takes you no god got gotcha gotcha gotcha that that I don't know I don't know any of that yeah I could give them a call for me no problem he said have somebody call them if they're gonna take me somewhere you know okay sounds

Absolutely. Sounds good. I appreciate. Take care of your mom. Okay. Okay, love you. Bye. We want to have anything to put in it, so it's black. That's the way I drink it. Thank you so much. Anything else? That's it. Thank you much. Right. No problem. Ronald Rackie is left to sit again, and then police are ready to take him to jail. All right. You need to use the bathroom before we leave? No, I'm in good shake. Thank you. Sure. Yep. Okay. Correct. two cups again so uh all right you know have the most flexible shoulder so we don't want to thank you okay so it's not killing you here how does feel on the wrist they're fine thank you all right

you walk them so they don't get tighter not this way back where you work just like before be careful getting in use a step if you need to might maybe slide your leg in however is it cold in here do you yes it is all right so i'll try to get the air off back here back here it's like stale I hear you. Thank you. All right. All right. So I turned off the AC back there. Thank you. So hopefully it kind of chills out a little bit.

Appreciate it. Thank you. I appreciate it. Police announced Ronald Racki's arrest at a press conference that morning. This morning at 5.43 a.m. Ronald Chester Racky was taken into custody and charged with second degree murder. And you'll be able to find additional information describing that charge and the probable cause affidavit packet that we've provided. We are also publicly identifying the victim as Lake and Marie West, a resident of Bradenton. And it's important to note that Ms. West has not yet been located.

Thor de Lal does allow law enforcement and prosecutors to move forward with prosecution when evidence supports a homicide took place and we're able to identify the, offender. This decision was made in consultation with the state attorney's office after careful review of all the evidence. If police are so certain that Ronald Rackie murdered Lake and West, then why? Did they wait so long to make an arrest? This investigation involves sustained, careful work over several months and extensive coordination with our law enforcement partners and the state attorney's office. Because you are being provided the probable cause affidavit today, I want to focus less on reciting facts and more on explaining how this investigation developed and how those facts were evaluated.

This case began as a missing person's investigation with the Bradington Police Department. Early efforts focused on establishing West's last known movements, her last known contacts, and whether there was evidence to suggest she left voluntarily or came to harm. As investigators analyzed phone records, digital data, data and witness information, they identified who last had contact with Ms. West. That investigative work led detectives to Ronald Chester Racky and the locations associated with him, including his business location. And Lake and West's body, she still has not been found.

Although an arrest has been made, this investigation is not over. Ms. West has not been located and investigators continue efforts to fight. find her. An arrest does not end this investigation. Laken West has not been found and her family continues to live without the closure they deserve. Someone out there may have information that could help us locate Lakin or provide additional answers about what happened to her. We are seeking anyone who knows something, no matter how small or insignificant, to come forward and contact Venice Police Department. Lakin's family deserves closure, and your information could help bring that closure to them. Ronald Rackie is being held without bail. He's expected back in court in Sarasota

County on March 20th. At that time, he will enter a plea. And that's it for this episode of crime fix. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.