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EL DORADO NATIONAL FOREST-

UC Berkeley student Vernon “Cody” Matthews went missing while hiking in the El Dorado National Forest Friday evening.

“He had been watching our house for us since the break in. And I think he got bored, just wanted to take an evening walk,” Cody’s father, Vern Matthews, said on Sunday.

Vern and his wife, Cindi, say their son came to stay at their vacation cabin off Peavine Road for the summer. When he arrived, he called his parents and said it looked like the cabin had been ransacked. Vern told FOX40 News whoever broke into their home stole their security camera. Vern said his son was not approached by, nor did he confront, whoever broke into their home.

“I talked to him right before he went on his hike, He was looking for a compass,” said Cindi.

Cindi said Cody called her Friday, looking for the compass, but eventually found it in his pocket.

The compass is one of the few items Cody’s mother believes he was carrying on the hike.

“Gorp, water, and a hunting knife,” said Cindi.

“That’s what he was seen walking around the area with earlier that day,” said El Dorado County Sheriff Deputy Greg Almos.

Almos said three witnesses saw Cody walking past cabins and hiking near Ice House Road. Rescue teams have been searching the surrounding area since Sunday morning. The only clue they’ve uncovered, a ping from Codys cellphone.

“It’s down in the river just below the area of the Pacific Ranger Station along Highway 50,” said Almos.

“He is young and bold and unafraid, and I’m concerned he took on something that was too big for him,” said Vern.

Vern said all of his children were raised vacationing in the woods, and they all have some outdoor skills. They are confident their son has the ability to survive in the wilderness for a couple of days, because of those skills.

“We’ve had good weather so survivability is on his side. We’ll keep going until we find him or rule out that he’s not in this area,” said Almos.

“My worst fear is that he’s not coming back alive. Next worse fear is that he’s never going to be able to enjoy life like he used to,” said Vern.