"He cooperated with us regarding the missing persons case and was not arrested, not apprehended nor was he detained," Camero said.

Camero and other police officials called a news conference at police headquarters yesterday to say Peters had been located and that his missing-person case had been closed. Earlier, members of Peters family had discussed the case with investigators at police headquarters.

Earlier this week, police confirmed Peters is a suspect in a theft case but did not provide details then or yesterday.

Jim Kosciuk, a spokesman for the U.S. customs bureau, said the agency had no comment.

Before his return at 7 a.m. yesterday aboard a Japan Air Lines flight, Peters was last seen leaving his Halawa business at about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

His 2005 silver Mercedes-Benz was found at about 6:45 a.m. Tuesday on the side of a cliff near the Makapu'u Lookout.

Police recovered his car and a pair of shoes. But there was no sign of Peters.

Honolulu Police Department spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii said at the time that investigators did not believe that Peters was the victim of foul play and that there were "indications" that Peters went missing on his own accord.

Peters did not return calls yesterday placed to his parents home on the Big Island, at his business office in Halawa Valley or at his home in Salt Lake.

Peters' roommate and business partner, Sky Peterson, said Peters had not contacted him to say he was back in Hawai'i. No one answered the door at their Salt Lake condominium late yesterday.

Peters worked at JTD International in Halawa. The company is a wholesaler that sells jewelry in the tourist trade.