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Husband Of Missing Durham Cellist Arrested On Fraud Charges

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DURHAM, N.C. — Police have arrested the husband of a missing Durham cellist on fraud charges.

Monday, police charged Robert Petrick with three counts of obtaining property under false pretense and three counts of forgery and uttering. Police said those charges are relevant to the case of his missing wife, Janine Sutphen, but they did not elaborate.

The arrest warrant shows Petrick wrote three bad checks, including one for nearly $48,000 to himself from a Charles Schwab account.

Tuesday morning, authorities continued their search of the couple's townhouse and the surrounding woods for clues into Sutphen's disappearance.

The cellist was last seen leaving her townhouse last Tuesday night to practice with the Durham Symphony. Her husband reported her missing the following morning.

Authorities later found Sutphen's vehicle parked in a parking deck across from the Durham Arts Center. Her cello was still in the car.

Petrick is being held in the Durham County Jail under $75,000 bond.

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