[Batpuff]

COLUMBIA, Ky. — A south-central Kentucky man whose vehicle was found abandoned nearly six weeks ago, setting off an investigation into his disappearance, turned up in his own attic, [b]Kentucky State Police said.[/b]

Christopher Benham had apparently been living in the attic with his wife, police said Tuesday.

Benham's vehicle was found May 31 in a rural area of Adair County. Evidence suggested he was missing under suspicious circumstances, police said in a statement.

Police began a missing-person investigation, and Benham's name was entered into the National Crime Information Center system, the statement said.

But following up on a tip, police searched Benham's home in Columbia and found him in the attic, where he was apparently living with his wife, Jamie Benham, police said.

Benham was arrested Tuesday on charges of tampering with physical evidence and falsely reporting an incident. Pending since before his disappearance were charges of theft, terroristic threatening and assault.

He was being held in the Adair County jail