<!--Rick Pfeiffer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Pfeiffer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com">rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
The man found dead in Meyers Lake in Lewiston on Saturday has been positively identified.
Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour said Monday the dead man is Ireri Gitari, 57, whose last known address was in Buffalo.
According to sheriff’s department investigators, Gitari previously lived in Kenya and had been in the U.S. for about 15 years. Voutour said no next of kin for Gitari have been located.
Lewiston Police Sgt. Frank Previte said Gitari was with a small group of people “camping” in the area of Meyers Lake. He said the group was eating and drinking around a small fire and Gitari apparently wandered off into a wooded area and became lost.
State police and Border Patrol officers were called in and an extensive search followed, using K-9 officers, night-vision equipment and ATV patrols. After about two hours of searching, Gitari’s body in Meyers Lake.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This investigation is ongoing and the death, at this point, does not seem to be suspicious,” Voutour said. “Several potential contributing factors are being looked into, such as intoxication, water temperature, weight of (Gitari’s) clothing and (his) swimming skills.”
