Trial set for 76-year-old charged in 2024 murder

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A case dating back two years moved closer to trial Tuesday morning as 76-year-old Ronald Racki appeared in a Sarasota County courtroom. Racki is accused of kidnapping and killing Laikyn West, a 24-year-old Bradenton woman who disappeared in September 2024. Racki was arrested on Feb. 20 and was charged with homicide — willful kill or murder not premeditated, a first-degree felony. Detectives say Racki confirmed to authorities that he and West had met multiple times before. While he initially denied the allegation, detectives say Racki eventually also admitted to using chloroform on West. Key evidence for the prosecution includes photos on Racki's phone timestamped 30 minutes after West's last known phone activity, showing West bound on a desk. Investigators also acquired evidence inside Racki's truck, conflicting statements from Racki, plus a suicide attempt by Racki shortly after West's disappearance. Previously in this case, a series of case hearings scheduled for June and July of this year were postponed and continued to Tuesday morning. Racki's defense team also had a motion granted to return business property to Racki for his place of employment that had no impact on the murder case itself. His next scheduled court appearance is a docket sounding set for May 3, 2027, at 1:30 p.m. His trial is officially scheduled to begin on May 17, 2027.