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Missing Rice student found in California, being held as theft suspect

01:25 PM CDT on Thursday, August 14, 2008

KHOU.com staff report

HOUSTON, Texas -- A Rice University student who went missing in December has been found alive in Berkeley, Calif., police confirmed early Thursday morning.

Video
11 News video
August 14, 2008

Matthew Wilson, 21, disappeared just before Christmas and had been the subject of a nationwide search. Two months ago, his car was found in Berkeley.

Berkeley police said in a release that Wilson was found in a University of California-Berkeley classroom with a laptop connected to a projector. Police said Wilson at first gave another name before offering his true identity.

The laptop was stolen, said police and the Oklahoma native was being held as a theft suspect.

“A BPD detective who has been working on the case is interviewing Wilson with hopes of learning the circumstances as to what (he) has been doing over the last eight months,” the police department said in its press announcement.

Rice University spokesman B.J. Almond could not confirm that Wilson had been found and could only refer 11 News to the press statement from Berkeley police.

Rice University & Berkeley California Police

Photos of Matthew Wilson as he looked before he disappeared in December.

Wilson was last seen by his roommate at their off-campus apartment Dec. 14, five days before the deadline to turn in take-home exams.

Before his disappearance, Wilson withdrew $500 from his checking account and bought charcoal, matches, a car cover and window shade, police said.

Rice University was offering a $10,000 reward for information that led to the discovery of Wilson. His family was also offering $10,000 for information leading to his return and Crime Stoppers of Houston offered a $5,000 reward.

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