BOSTON -- A corpse that disappeared from the state's medical examiner's office was found Friday buried in the wrong grave.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Morelli reported that the body of Thomas Brissette, 49, was transported to the Boston facility on April 23. An autopsy was performed the following day. When the doctor went to re-examine the body, it was gone.

State police spent the day Friday helping to search for the body. A source close to the investigation told NewsCenter 5 that the body was found buried in a Boston cemetery. Officials have found the body of a homeless man, who was supposed to be buried in that grave.

"I just can't imagine how you can misplace something like a body," said Nancy Megan, one of Brissette's friends.

"It just doesn't make any sense, and I think it is really sad that that happened to him," said Amber Norman, one of Brissette's friends.

Earlier Friday, Gov. Deval Patrick directed the Executive Office of Public Safety to remove Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mark Flomenbaum from his duties effective immediately.

"It is paramount that the family of this individual be provided the facts of this case and to have the remains of their loved one for closure. The governor and I are horrified by this apparent failure to perform the most basic of duties in this important agency. It is critical that all citizens of Massachusetts have confidence in the operation of this vital office," said Kurt N. Schwartz, undersecretary for Law Enforcement and Fire Services, who is serving as Acting Secretary of Public Safety.

In 2005, then-Gov. Mitt Romney brought Flomenbaum to Boston from New York. Patrick ordered a top-to-bottom review of the state medical examiner's office. It will be performed by the Virginia-based company that is conducting a similar review of state police crime lab.