INDIANAPOLIS -- A Greenwood-area man released from prison because of a serious medical condition may be headed back behind bars.

Joseph Nowicki (pictured, left), who was named a suspect but is not charged in the 2002 disappearance of Greenwood's Brookley Louks, was released from a federal medical detention center in Missouri Wednesday. He was being held on firearms charges.

A judge earlier this week ordered Nowicki's release to allow him to die at home. Nowicki has throat cancer and reportedly only has a few months to live.

But a hearing was scheduled Thursday on a previous arrest warrant that was issued because he didn't appear in court in September on a misdemeanor charge. Nowicki's attorney argues the warrant should be dropped because Nowicki was in federal custody on the firearms charges at the time, and therefore he couldn't appear in court.

Louks was 19 when she was reported missing June 24, 2002, and has not been seen since. Authorities believe she is dead.

Police in September said drops of what they believed to be Louks' blood were found on Nowicki's property. The blood was found during a search July 17, 2002, police said.

Louks (pictured, left) used to do errands for Nowicki, who was a friend of her father.

Nowicki has denied involvement in the disappearance.

RTV6 reported last week that Nowicki recently hinted in a letter to authorities that he has information that could help the probe.

RTV6 reported Nowicki wrote the following: "If I were to tell you all I know right now, then your case would be cleared up." RTV6 learned of the letter through a source on condition that the source not be identified.

Previous Stories:

• July 1, 2003: Suspect In Woman's Disappearance Ordered Released
• June 25, 2003: Suspect Hints He Could Provide Info About Missing Woman
• May 29, 2003: Missing Woman's Grandfather Denied Access To Case Info
• April 23, 2003: Missing Woman's Grandfather Goes To Court For Case Info
• January 12, 2003: Coroner: Intoxication Killed Father Of Missing Woman
• November 5, 2002: Father Of Missing Greenwood Woman Found Dead
• September 17, 2002: Search Continues For Missing Greenwood Teen
• August 22, 2002: Prosecutor: Missing Teen's Father Must Answer Questions
• July 30, 2002: Drugs May Be Connected To Greenwood Woman's Disappearance, Records Show
• July 29, 2002: Suspect In Teen's Disappearance Pleads Not Guilty To Unrelated Charge
• July 26, 2002: Suspect In Teen's Disappearance Arrested On Unrelated Charges
• July 18, 2002: Police To Reinterview Man About Missing Greenwood Teen
• July 18, 2002: Police Search Home In Case Of Missing Greenwood Teen
• July 1, 2002: Police Baffled By Disappearance Of Greenwood Woman