New York Psychiatrist who buried body in backyard, going back to prison on parole violation

February 5, 2018

William Lewek, the former psychiatrist who buried the body of a dead man in his backyard, is returning to prison for three months after admitting to a parole violation.

Lewek last week admitted to a violation of his parole terms. He had been accused of failing to seek mental health treatment in a timely manner.

Lewek will serve three more months in prison, then be released again on parole terms.

Lewek, who has lost his medical license, pleaded guilty in February 2015 to burying the body of 32-year-old Matthew Straton in the backyard of Lewek's Rowley Street home. He was sentenced to 1⅓ to four years for tampering with evidence, the maximum penalty for the felony.

Gary Craig, "William Lewek, who buried body in backyard, going back to prison on parole violation," Democrat & Chronicle, Feb. 5, 2018, https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/02/05/william-lewek-matthew-straton-parole-violation-tampering-evidence-rochester-psychiatrist/306365002/.