Venice Man Arrested For Murder Of Missing Bradenton Woman: Police

VENICE, FL — A 75-year-old Venice man was arrested for the homicide of a Bradenton woman who was reported missing in 2024, Venice police said in a news release.

Ronald Racki was arrested Friday around 5:45 a.m. and charged with second-degree murder, investigators said. He is being held at the Sarasota County Jail without bond.

Laikyn Marie West, 24, was reported missing on Sept. 16, 2024.

Her housemate told investigators that West was last seen on Sept. 13, when she left their home and was picked up by a white car, Bradenton police said in a social media post.

She never returned and also missed a scheduled out-of-state flight, which prompted the missing person report.

As the investigation progressed, evidence indicated that Venice was the last known location where she was alive, police said. Detectives also developed information that led them to Racki.

Bradenton police launched a joint investigation with Venice police in December 2024. They also received support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Homeland Security Investigations) and the State Attorney’s Office.

As additional evidence developed indicating that West was murdered and because critical investigative events happened within the city’s jurisdiction, Venice police became the lead investigators in the case.

Evidence showed that West and Racki knew each other and had arranged to meet, police said. He was the last person to see her alive.

Though he’s been arrested, West hasn’t been found yet.

Florida law allows law enforcement and prosecutors to move forward when the evidence supports that a homicide occurred and identifies the responsible party, even when remains haven’t been found, police said.

Anyone with information about her disappearance and death is asked to contact Sarasota County Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477.

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