As Petrick walked out of jail, he told reporters that he "feels fine" to be free.
Thursday morning, Judge Orlando Hudson changed Petrick's bond to "unsecured" and told prosecutors that Petrick cannot be held on possible homicide charges. He was released on his promise to appear in court.
However, the judge ordered Petrick not to leave the state of North Carolina and prosecutors announced they plan to file more fraud charges against him.
Sutphen was reported missing on Jan. 21. Police searched the couple's home and surroundng area for days, but never found a body. Petrick was arrested on fraud charges that police said are somehow related to Sutphen's disappearance.
Earlier this week, Petrick told WRAL in a jailhouse interview that he does not have anything to do with his wife's disappearance.
"All I could ask at this point is that people would give me the benefit of the doubt that I might not have done this," he said. "I haven't been charged with it. Give me the benefit of the doubt that I might not be guilty."
Police have never officially named Petrick a suspect in his wife's disappearance.
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