A 21-year-old Rice University student who went missing from his Houston apartment in December was found on the UC Berkeley campus last night.

Matthew Wilson, whose car was found abandoned in Berkeley on June 10, was detained by a UCPD officer in Dwinelle Hall as a possible theft suspect.

According to Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss, Matthew Wilson eventually identified himself to the UCPD officer.

Rice University and the Wilson family have been notified that Matthew Wilson was found, Kusmiss said.

Wilson was wearing all black when he was detained. He currently has short hair and no beard and was wearing wire-framed glasses, Kusmiss said.

Though foul play was not suspected in the disappearance, many Rice University students said Matthew Wilson's sudden disappearance was uncharacteristic of the junior computer science major.

Last month, Matthew Wilson's mother, Cathy Wilson, came to Berkeley two times and searched the area after several people reported seeing him.

A high school valedictorian, Matthew Wilson disappeared on Dec. 15, just a few days before his finals, his mother said.

According to Cathy Wilson, the abandoned car found on Allston Way contained books on identity theft and how to live cheaply in San Francisco. It also had a local Berkeley newspaper dated Jan. 8 and an alarm clock.

Cathy Wilson said last month that her son likely left home because he was mentally exhausted.

Berkeley Police Department homicide detectives had been working with Rice University Police Department on the case since Matthew Wilson's car was found in Berkeley two months ago.

A Berkeley police detective who has been working on the case is interviewing Wilson to find out the what Wilson has been doing for the past eight months, Kusmiss said in a statement.

UCPD is looking into the ongoing theft investigation.

No further details were made available last night.

Tags: MATTHEW WILSON