Gary Craig

@gcraig1

A body found behind a city home Wednesday evening has been identified as that of missing man Matthew Straton.

The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the identification Thursday night, about a day after police went to a Rowley Street home in the city after a report of human remains in the backyard.

Dr. William Lewek, 62, a psychiatrist who lives at the house at 27 Rowley St., has been charged with tampering with physical evidence and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies.

He is scheduled to appear in City Court on Friday for arraignment.

While the family of 32-year-old Matthew Straton said early Thursday that police suspected the remains were those of Matthew, the decomposition of the body made identification difficult.

Jeremy Straton, a younger brother of Matthew, came to the city street where media gathered Thursday morning. After a long hug with another brother, Corey, he told the media about the suspicions that Matthew had been found.

"They said it looked like he had been there a while," Jeremy Straton said about the police conversation with his mother. " ... I wanted it to end but not like this."

Lewek bought the Rowley Street home in 2002, records show. Attempts to contact him for this story were unsuccessful.

Lewek received his New York medical license on March 30, 1979, according to records on the state Department of Health website.

He is board certified in addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine and geriatric psychiatry.

There was no record on the website of the state's Office of Professional Medical Conduct of any action against Lewek.

Lewek was a volunteer clinical supervisor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He would work with residents on a particular patient's case, according to URMC spokeswoman Teri D'Agostino.

Residents are assigned to a supervisor, taking into account the resident's interest and the strengths of the supervisor.

D'Agostino wrote in an email that Lewek had served as a supervisor "for a couple of decades and was well regarded by the residents he taught (who complete reviews on volunteer supervisors)."

D'Agostino said Lewek currently was working with a resident who went out on maternity leave in the last few weeks.

Rochester Police Investigator Frank Camp said Thursday that police received a report Wednesday evening about human remains behind the Rowley Street home.

"The scene was secured and the recovery effort was suspended until daylight hours," Camp said in a prepared statement. "The circumstances of the death are under investigation."

Jeremy Straton said police indicated that, sometime after Matthew's disappearance, they traced a cellphone signal to the neighborhood where the remains were found.

After Matthew went missing, the Straton family and friends started a campaign on Facebook encouraging anyone with information to contact authorities.

Early Thursday, Jeremy Straton wrote on the page: "Rest in peace Matthew Straton I love you brother."

Matthew Straton was not a stranger in the neighborhood. Jeremy lived nearby, as does Joseph Cecchi, who said he was a close friend.

A missing poster for Straton was stapled on a utility pole near the home where the body was found.

Cecchi said Matthew was recovering from drug issues. A Rowley Street resident, Cecchi said he attended high school in Webster with Matthew.

Cecchi said Straton was agoraphobic, suffered from anxiety and did not like to leave his house. He was battling drug issues, but was serious about recovery, he said.

"I know he didn't hurt himself," said Cecchi, 30.

"I still lose it sometimes, but I am relieved that they can link his death to someone and didn't just find his body somewhere," he said. "I am still uncomfortable about the stuff I don't know or understand, but the main thing is concluded."

Jeremy Straton declined to answer Thursday when asked whether Matthew was dealing with any issues.

"He was so loving and caring," Jeremy said of his brother.

The city neighborhood, between Park and Monroe Avenues, was abuzz with concern over the police activity.

Kyle Freid, who lives in the neighborhood, said he saw a dozen or more police cars pull up to the scene Wednesday night. He said he saw officers take digging tools into the backyard of the scene and bring bags out from the home.

Neighbors Melissa Hill and Althea Menguy said they were shaken up by the incident.

"I came outside and I saw all the police cars and I got scared. This is our home. We don't want to be scared in our home," said Menguy.

GCRAIG@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/gcraig1

Includes reporting by staff writers Tina Yee, Chad Roberts, Gary McLendon and Neeti Upadhye.