The month-long search for a missing student which involved University police, the FBI and a private investigator has ended.

Andrew T. McCarter, 22, disappeared at the end of last semester. His family had not talked to him since Thanksgiving and the last person to see him on campus was his roommate, who spotted him in a Mifflin Hall hallway. That was 6 a.m. Dec. 14.

But on Jan. 16, McCarter broke a self-imposed silence. One of his friends, Wendy Goldstein, 140 E. College Ave., received a card stating he was fine and and that he was "hiding out."

Two days later McCarter phoned Goldstein. She said McCarter did not realize his disappearance had been publicized and "didn't mean to cause any trouble." He just wanted to get away from everything and is renting a house with four other men and working, Goldstein said.

"He does not want to be found," she said, obeying his wish that his location not be disclosed.

In addition to contacting Goldstein, McCarter wrote a letter to his mother, Frances Palmer, of Allentown. She said she received a letter Friday that stated he is not in any dire circumstances.

The letter does not reveal many details, Palmer said, adding her son said he would "write to everyone to clear everything up."

"He said he wants to do many things before he dies . . . it was a very short letter," she said. "It has no return address, nothing."

MaCarter does not have a terminal illness, Goldstein said.

Now that McCarter has resurfaced, University police, who were investigating his disappearance, has officially stopped its search.

"We're satisfied that he's fine and that he did everything out of his own volition, so our case on the matter is closed," a police supervisor said.

McCarter's name has also been removed from the National Crime Information Center computer system and he is no longer considered a missing person by federal officials.

When he could not be located, McCarter was officially classified as a missing person and entered into the NCIC system. The NCIC computer is operated by the FBI and can be accessed by law enforcement agencies across the nation for investigations ranging from driver's license checks to missing person reports, the supervisor said.

ix missing student cases result each year and almost all are located or turn up, the spokesman said. Common reasons for "disappearing" are bad grades, not wanting to go home or forgetting to call relatives, he said.

While police are satisfied the McCarter investigation is over, his family is not. Palmer said although her son has contacted her and others, the private investigator -- which McCarter's family hired after the holidays -- will continue to look for him.