A 75-year-old Florida man is behind bars after investigators say they uncovered chilling evidence tied to the disappearance of a 24-year-old woman — including alleged photos taken the night she vanished and a reported hospital confession.
Ronald Chester Racki was arrested on Feb. 20, 2026, and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Laikyn Marie West, a Bradenton woman who was reported missing in September 2024 and has not been found.
West was last seen alive on Sept. 13, 2024. Three days later, her roommate reported her missing.
Authorities say Racki quickly became a person of interest after a search of West’s phone revealed he was the last person she contacted before disappearing. Cellphone records reportedly show the two spoke around 8 a.m. the morning she vanished.
According to police, Racki told investigators he picked West up from her Bradenton home and drove her to Venice for lunch. He allegedly claimed he planned to pay her for sexual favors. He later said he dropped her off back in Bradenton — but detectives say no witnesses saw her there, and license plate readers did not place his vehicles in the area.
Investigators now believe West was last alive in Venice.
The case took a disturbing turn in December 2024. Detectives confronted Racki with a journal entry written by West, in which she described a man paying her around $1,000 to allow him to chloroform her during sex.
Racki allegedly admitted to fantasizing about sex involving chloroform, restraints, and simulated rape. However, he denied ever actually drugging or killing her. He acknowledged owning chloroform but claimed he used it to clean car seats.
When authorities searched his phone with a court-authorized warrant, they reportedly found photographs of West lying naked and bound with handcuffs and cable ties. Metadata allegedly showed at least one image was taken at 9:59 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2024 — the night she was last seen.
Investigators also reportedly discovered searches for violent pornography and “snuff”-themed content.
On the same day those photos were discovered, Racki was hospitalized following what authorities described as a suicide attempt. During his hospital stay, a nurse allegedly documented that Racki stated, “I killed four women six weeks ago.”
Investigators say they have found no evidence of additional victims.
Adding to the suspicion, a Venice car detailer told authorities he deep-cleaned Racki’s blue pickup truck around the time West disappeared. The detailer reportedly noticed a suspicious stain on the rear floorboard and said the vehicle had an unusual odor, though no written service record was available.
As of Feb. 23, 2026, West’s body has not been recovered. Investigators say there is no evidence she is alive or that she left voluntarily.
Racki is currently being held in the Sarasota County Jail without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on March 20.
Police say the arrest follows months of coordinated investigative work.
“We remain committed to seeking justice for Laikyn West and to bringing answers to her family,” Venice Police Chief Andy Leisenring said.
Authorities have not publicly detailed what specific developments led to the timing of Racki’s arrest this week. The investigation remains ongoing.