SEATAC, Wash. -- He's no longer missing, and no longer any candidate for a father of the year award.

Nicholas Francisco, who had been "missing" since Feb. 13, 2008, was found alive and quite well living under a new name in another state, said John Urquhart with the King County Sheriff's Department.

Francisco hadn't been heard from since he called his pregnant wife that day and promised his 4-year-old daughter Zea he'd make Valentine's Day cookies with her, but never showed. The family also had a 2 1/2-year-old son.

Francisco's car was found a few days later, abandoned in Federal Way. Police investigated but found no evidence of foul play.

His wife issued urgent pleas for his safe return.

"If you can't find him, these kids won't have a daddy then," his wife said in a tearful interview on Feb. 17, 2008. "This unborn baby won't have a daddy."

She filed for divorce that June, requesting custody of the children and alleging "willful abandonment that continues for a period of time" and a "history of acts of domestic violence ... or an assault or sexual assault which causes grievous bodily harm or the fear of such harm."

Urquhart said they have closed their investigation. He did not reveal where Francisco was found.