Man Found By River in Batavia Loved God, Bike Riding

The 46-year-old man who was found dead in Batavia on Monday had spent all year turning his life around, an Aurora program director said on Tuesday.

Brett C. Straight was a resident in the Master’s Touch Ministry program at Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora. He had lived there since December 2011.

“He was doing very well,” said Randy Tomassi, the program’s director. “He was sadly within 10 days of graduation.”

Straight did not make a mandatory 9:30 p.m. bed check at Wayside Cross, 215 E. New York St., Aurora, on Sunday night. Tomassi wasn’t sure what happened to Straight until he saw the media reports Tuesday morning.

identified Straight as the man that was near the Fox River east of the trail and east of the 500 block of North Batavia Avenue. Straight was near his head, but a cause of death has not been determined.

Investigators did not specify why Straight was at the river, but Tomassi said Straight was likely near the river trail because he enjoyed riding his bike.

This is what Straight posted on his Facebook page May 18:

 “Everyone hav a blessed & safe weekend! Sunday i'm off 2 Elgin & back- a good 40 miles roundtrip!!! I LUV MY BIKE!!!”

A bike was found near Straight’s body, but it is not confirmed yet as his.

Tomassi on Tuesday spoke to Patch about Straight’s accomplishments, his devotion to God, and what he planned to do next in his life.

“He was an excellent Bible student,” Tomassi said. “I’m just so saddened by this.”

Looking For Change

Brett Straight came to Wayside Cross at the end of last year with the intention of changing his life, Tomassi said.

The Master’s Touch Ministry is a residential, Bible-based program for men who want to turn their lives around after alcohol abuse, drug abuse or other struggles.

Straight acknowledged he had a pattern of bad behavior and didn’t deny it, Tomassi said. He did not elaborate on Straight’s situation, citing confidentiality for the program’s participants.

Straight did not shy away from the religious aspect of the program, which requires the men to attend a 7 a.m. Bible study.

“Every day he was as fresh as a daisy and sharp as a tack,” Tomassi said. “He was ready to study God’s word.”

The Next Step

Straight had almost reached the end of the program’s six-month period. He would have been recognized in an individual graduation ceremony next week.

Straight was going to be a resident adviser in the Ministry’s internal work program. He would have been a supervisor in the Ministry’s warehouse where donations are organized.

He was in line for the job because he was well regarded in the work program and his peers looked up to him, Tomassi said.

Straight also followed the program’s rules closely, so it wasn’t like him to miss the Sunday bed check. Staff members told Tomassi that Straight was at Wayside Cross on Saturday night and at church on Sunday morning.

Then he left on a bicycle and never came back.

“I believe he is in heaven because he was trusting Jesus Christ as his savior, and that gives me peace,” Tomassi said.

Here are some ways to follow this story:

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To read our previous story on Brett Straight, .

To read our initial story from the Fox River Trail, .