Lisa Stebic - Media Links Only Please, No Discussion

[CW]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...6,1,664739.story?track=rss&ctrack=2&cset=true


[Plainfield house is searched

By Jo Napolitano, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporter Hal Dardick contributed to this report
Published May 16, 2007
Police spent 4 1/2 hours beginning late Monday night searching the house where a missing Plainfield woman lived with her husband, sparking complaints from his attorney that it was meant to intimidate his client.

Lisa Stebic, a mother of two, was last seen April 30 by her husband, Craig. The couple were getting a divorce but continued to share a spacious home in the 13200 block of Red Star Drive


Police on Tuesday impounded Craig Stebic's two vehicles, a 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck and a 2004 Saturn Ion, as part of the search. Attorney Dion Davi said police are trying to coerce a confession.

"I think the strategy was to put as much stress on him and on his family as possible," Davi said. "I believe the investigation is such that they are not able to uncover any leads and are just grasping at straws."

Davi said the two children had to sleep outside in one of the family vehicles while the search was under way. The 10-year-old son was so traumatized he didn't attend school Tuesday, the attorney said.

Davi has asked police for a complete inventory of what was taken from the house and for an explanation of the "probable cause" necessary to obtain the warrant. He said the family now has no functional vehicle because a truck left behind doesn't work.

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/390002,4_1_JO16_STEBICEVICT_S2.article


Stebic wanted husband out

May 16, 2007
By JANET LUNDQUIST Staff Writer
JOLIET --The day she disappeared, Lisa Stebic mailed a petition to oust her
husband from their home while their divorce was pending so she and her
children could "live in peace."
Signed on the last page in neat cursive, Lisa Stebic's petition for
temporary eviction of her spouse, Craig, states he was being "unnecessarily
relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering and verbally abusive." His
behavior was "jeopardizing the mental well-being" of their children, she
said.
She felt his verbal abuse was affecting her mental and physical well-being,
according to her petition.
That petition was included in a motion filed Wednesday by Lisa Stebic¹s
attorney, Glenn Kahn, as a response to Craig Stebic's motion for temporary
custody of the couple's two children.
Lisa Stebic, 37, was last seen about 6 p.m. April 30 at her Red Star Drive
home. She was reported missing May 1 by a neighbor.

Did Craig know about petition?

» Click to enlarge image

The attorney for Lisa Stebic (left) said he doesn't know whether her husband Craig Stebic (right) knew of Lisa's plans to file papers with the courts seeking his eviction from their Plainfield home.

(STAFF FILE PHOTO)
Because the petition was received after Lisa was reported missing, it was
never filed in court, Kahn said.
The law office typed up the petition and gave it to Lisa to sign and return
before her disappearance, he said. He did not know whether Craig Stebic knew
Lisa planned to sign and mail the petition.
"That's the million dollar question," Kahn said. "It's quite possible he
did, it's possible he didn't as well. She did have it at the house."
Craig Stebic's attorney, Dion Davi, said as far as he knew Craig did not
know Lisa was mailing the petition.
Davi, who said he saw Lisa's petition for the first time Wednesday, said it
did not contain any specific allegations. Other than the police responding
to their house in December for an argument, Davi said he had no indication
that the couple had a problem living in the same house.
"We don¹t know if Lisa truly intended to file this petition," Davi said.
He said he does not think the petition will hurt Craig's chances of
obtaining temporary custody of his kids.

 

[CW]

Nancy Grace, May 16th, 07

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/16/ng.01.html


NANCY GRACE

Police Say Possible Foul Play in Disappearance of Chicago-Area Mother

Aired May 16, 2007 - 20:00:00 ET

NANCY GRACE, HOST: Tonight, breaking news. Day 16, a young mother of two who reportedly goes for a jog, then never heard from again. Tonight we learn Lisa Stebic disappears just hours after mailing court papers to evict her husband, the two still living under the same roof. And tonight, for the first time, police refuse to rule out foul play. And further developments. Police swoop in for a late-night search, a five-hour search on Stebic`s home, seizing both family cars.
And tonight: A beautiful 4-year-old baby girl on a luxury resort vacation with her entire family vanishes from her own bedroom after parents leave the children alone to attend a dinner party. Tonight, the reward climbing to over $5 million to find baby Maddy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last Thursday evening, a little girl called Maddy was taken from the family hotel room. As I`m sure you understand, we need to do everything possible to help the police with their inquiries in finding her. If you have seen this little girl, please could you go to your local authorities or police and give any information that you have.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is very nearly two weeks now since Madeleine McCann was abducted from her family`s holiday apartment. In that time, police have searched hundreds of properties. The latest development, a block of apartments in this resort has tonight been sealed off. There have been in those two weeks been leads and suspects, the most high-profile of them Robert Murat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Robert Murat`s house is still under police guard. Police tape still marks the outer limits of his garden and the driveway here. But police have been very clear they don`t have enough evidence even to continue questioning Robert Murat, let alone arrest him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police have been seen working at another property.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The inquiry appears to have moved quite quickly over the last three days, but the hours must tick by very slowly for the McCann family because Madeleine is still not here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Good evening. I`m Nancy Grace. I want to thank you for being with us tonight. First, to upscale Chicago suburbs and the mystery of missing mom Lisa Stebic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Plainfield Police Department obtained and executed a search warrant at the home of Lisa Stebic, who has been missing since April 30.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The photos are somewhat grainy, an eerie shade of yellow, taken with a special low-light attachment. What they show is eerie, too -- highly specialized police units, including members of the Joliet Police Department`s special operations squad, the FBI`s evidence response team, some in SWAT gear, moving in on the quaint suburban home Lisa Stebic once shared with her husband and two children. The pictures show forensic technicians entering and police impounding Lisa`s car and her husband`s truck.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what were you able to recover?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re not discussing what items were discovered at the residence or in the vehicle.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Deputy Chief Eiting says a neighbor reported Lisa missing and that she was last seen by her husband, Craig, in their Plainfield home 15 days ago. The Stebics were in the process of getting a divorce and lived in the home with their two children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Where is missing mom Lisa Stebic? Tonight, the plot seems to thicken. It is revealed that the very day, just hours, in fact, before she goes missing, she had mailed formal court documents back to her lawyer asking her husband to be evicted from the family home, the two in a bizarre living situation much like "War of the Roses," two of them while seeking a divorce living under the same roof. Nothing good can come of that.

Out to Michelle Fiore with WBBM Newsradio. What`s the latest?

MICHELLE FIORE, WBBM NEWSRADIO: Well, I talked with Glenn Khan just this evening, and he tells me that the situation in the divorce had become tense, tense enough to the fact that the -- to the point to where Lisa was wanting to have her husband removed from the home. She had told her attorney that it didn`t feel comfortable in the house anymore, that he was both verbally abusive to her alone when she was only in the house, and even in front of the children, as well, that he was intimidating to her, and that she thought it would be best for not only herself but also for the sake of the two children that he be removed from the house.

GRACE: Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Plainfield Police Department obtained and executed a search warrant at the home of Lisa Stebic, who has been missing since April 30. Plainfield police, with the help of the Joliet Police Department and the FBI, started the search last night at midnight and spent approximately four-and-a-half hours at the residence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The photos are somewhat grainy, an eerie shade of yellow, taken with a special low-light attachment. What they show is eerie, too -- highly specialized police units, including members of the Joliet Police Department`s special operations squad, the FBI`s evidence response team, some in SWAT gear, moving in on the quaint suburban home Lisa Stebic once shared with her husband and two children. The pictures show forensic technicians entering and police impounding Lisa`s car and her husband`s truck.

Lisa left here on April 30 with her cell phone and her wallet and has not been seen since. The phone and credit cards were never used again. Lisa and her husband shared a home with their kids, even though they were going through a divorce. Craig Stebic still lives there with the couple`s children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: He must have a sinus condition because I`m not seeing any tears. I assume that was at one of the vigils. Let me reiterate that the husband, Mr. Stebic, has not been named a suspect.

I have in my hands the court documents. We didn`t even know that Lisa Stebic was asking to have her husband evicted from the family home, these papers filed -- mailed by her to her lawyer. Within hours, she was missing. And what`s so interesting is I`m looking at this -- and to you, Jean Casarez -- it says, "Husband`s behavior toward Lisa alone and in front of the children is unnecessarily relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering, verbally abusive, jeopardizing Lisa`s mental and physical well-being." And this is what disturbed me. "As a result of his disruptive behavior," according to her, "police intervention has been required to diffuse the situation."

So the cops had been out there?

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/389727,4_1_JO17_MISSING_S1.article


LISA WANTED HUSBAND OUT
ATTORNEYS GOT THE LETTER AFTER SHE VANISHED, BUT ON THE DAY SHE DID ...

May 17, 2007
By JANET LUNDQUIST Staff Writer
JOLIET -- The day she disappeared, Lisa Stebic mailed a petition to oust her husband from their home while their divorce was pending so she and her children could "live in peace."

Signed on the last page in neat cursive, Lisa Stebic's petition for temporary eviction of her spouse, Craig, states he was being "unnecessarily relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering and verbally abusive." His behavior was "jeopardizing the mental well-being" of their children, she said.

» Click to enlarge image

The attorney for Lisa Stebic Said he doesn't know whether her husband, Craig Stebic (right), knew of Lisa's plans to have Craig evicted from their Plainfield home (left) before she disappeared April 30.
(STAFF FILE PHOTOS)

RELATED STORIES
• Photos: The Stebic story
She felt his verbal abuse was affecting her mental and physical well-being, according to her petition.

That petition was included in a motion filed Wednesday by Lisa Stebic's attorney, Glenn Kahn, as a response to Craig Stebic's motion for temporary custody of the couple's two children.

Lisa Stebic, 37, was last seen about 6 p.m. April 30 at her Red Star Drive home. She was reported missing May 1 by a neighbor.

Did Craig know about petition?
Because the petition was received after Lisa was reported missing, it was never filed in court, Kahn said.
The law office typed up the petition and gave it to Lisa to sign and return before her disappearance, he said. He did not know whether Craig Stebic knew Lisa planned to sign and mail the petition.

"That's the million dollar question," Kahn said. "It's quite possible he did, it's possible he didn't as well. She did have it at the house."

 

[CW]

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_21281483.shtml


Lisa Stebic Case: Updates Point To Non-Suspect, 'Abusive' Husband
By Tashi Singh
May 18, 2007

Lisa Stebic Case - Lisa Stebic, a wife and mother of two from Plainfield, tried to have her "verbally abusive" husband Craig Stebic evicted the same day she went missing. Craig, who is not a suspect, seems to have more than one sign pointing the finger at him, and while he may or may not have participated in his wife's disappearance, it's certainly worth considering.

Lisa, who has been missing since April 30th (07), was trying to kick her husband out of their home the same day she mysteriously disappeared. Stebic's attorney released a petition she filed to have her husband evicted in the midst of their pending divorce, in which she described Craig as "unnecessarily relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering and verbally abusive."

She also wrote that his behavior was "jeopardizing the mental well-being" of their children, and she felt that if he left, their children could "live in peace." It is unclear as to whether or not Craig was 'aware' of the petition.

Lisa Stebic went missing on April 30th, on what seemed to be a typical day for the mom. She worked in the Lincoln Elementary School cafeteria in the afternoon, where friends say she seemed completely normal. She left the school around 2:30pm as usual, where she would then proceed to either run errands, or go home. She always picked up her 10-year-old son Zach from Walker's Grove Elementary School at 3:30, but it is unconfirmed as to whether or not Lisa was the one to pick up Zach the day of her disappearance.

According to Lisa's friends, Lisa almost always made sure she was with her children at home until Craig would get home from work in the evening.

The police claim 10-year-old Zach and 12-year-old Lexi went to a nearby Walgreens between 6 and 7:00pm for some candy, about the same time Craig says he last saw his wife.

 

[CW]

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_138094329.html


Mystery Still Surrounds Stebic Disappearance
Husband Said Lisa Stebic Left To Work Out; High School Gym Didn't See Her
SLIDESHOW: See This Week's News In Photos
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(Naperville Sun) PLAINFIELD, Ill. It's 16 hours that remain cloaked in mystery - from the last evening Lisa Stebic was supposedly seen to when she was reported missing the next morning.

If only seeing the events of those hours were as simple as rewinding a videotape.

But so far, the facts around Lisa's whereabouts April 30 consist merely of bits and pieces of evidence, stitched together from reports by friends, co-workers and family members of the missing 37-year-old mother of two.

Lisa's husband, Craig, says he was the last person to see her, telling reporters and authorities she was in the family's Plainfield home around 6 p.m. that Monday. When he discovered later that evening that she had left with her purse containing her credit cards and cell phone, he assumed she had gone to work out at Plainfield North High School - her typical evening routine.

But workers at the high school gym say they never saw her that evening. Employee Pete Quimby said that was unusual for Lisa, who typically visited the gym three or four times a week and stayed from about 6 p.m. until closing time at 8:30 p.m.

 

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http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_139213821.html


Stebic Blood Found In Husband's Vehicle
Authorities Acknowledge Lisa Stebic Might Be Victim of Foul Play
SLIDESHOW: See This Week's News In Photos
Get breaking news alerts

Pamela Jones
Reporting

(CBS) Plainfield, Ill. There's a new lead in the disappearance of Lisa Stebic; it comes as friends and families mark the missing woman's birthday.

The Naperville Sun is quoting an unnamed police source saying police found a tarp in Craig Stebic's truck which has tested positive for his wife Lisa Stebic's blood.

The Will County State Attorney's Office will neither confirm nor deny that, saying the warrant is under seal.

It's information the missing woman's side of the family was surprised to hear.

In an e-mail from Melanie Greenberg, the Stebic family spokesperson, stated: "The family of Lisa Stebic was not aware of, and does not now know, the grounds on which the Plainfield Police Department obtained the search warrant executed at Lisa and Craig's home last Monday. We continue to have full confidence in the Plainfield Police Department, and do not wish to comment on the course of their investigation at this time. We remain thankful beyond words to all those who have supported us and sent their prayers for Lisa's safe return."

Satruday balloons lifted skyward against a setting sun in a tribute to Lisa Stebic on her 38th birthday.

The family said they are grateful for those who attended the candlelight vigil in Stebic's honor Saturday evening.

"It's just a difficult day in general because it's Lisa's 38th birthday and she's not here with us and she's not with her two children," said Melanie Greenberg, Stebic's cousin and family spokesperson.

The Naperville Sun reports a tarp investigators confiscated from Stebic's home as evidence has tested positive for Lisa Stebic's blood and that evidence sparked a judge to approve a search warrant on the home executed Monday.

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/392743,4_1_JO19_MISSING_S1.article


Who is Lisa Stebic?

May 19, 2007
By CATHERINE ANN VELASCO STAFF WRITER
PLAINFIELD -- At the time of her disappearance, Lisa Stebic loved butterflies because it symbolized her transformation.

In the middle of a divorce, Stebic started a fitness regimen, lost weight and looked forward to a life as a single mom, family and friends say.

» Click to enlarge image

This 2007 photo shows Lisa Stebic (from left) with her sisters, Jamie Bouma and Debbie Ruttenberg.


RELATED STORIES
• TV program, vigil mark Lisa's birthday
• Web site: Find Lisa Stebic
She seemed to understand the saying, "What a caterpillar thinks is the end, a butterfly knows is just the beginning."

To celebrate a new start in her life, Lisa got a butterfly tattoo on her lower back with her children's names on each side. She already had a small rose on her ankle with her daughter's name and wanted a tattoo with her son's name.

"A butterfly was her symbol right now because she was going through changes in her life. She was going through a divorce. It was a symbol for her about the changes she was making in her life," said Melanie Greenberg, a family member.

Lisa had planned to get another tattoo with a smiley face before she disappeared April 30, said co-worker and friend Ruby Zegar.

Monday will mark three weeks since the 37-year-old mother of two disappeared from her Plainfield home at 13244 Red Star Drive.

Lisa's husband, Craig Stebic, reported to Plainfield police that he hasn't seen his wife since she left their home with her purse and cell phone about 6 p.m. April 30. He said she left on foot or was picked up because her car was still in the driveway.

Lisa has missed some milestones in three weeks, including Mother's Day and now her 38th birthday, which is today.

For Lisa's birthday, Kim Young, Sodexho Food Service manager and Lisa's boss and friend, Lisa and co-workers had planned to go out and have drinks to celebrate.

Young hired Lisa four years ago, developing a friendship based on common interests, such as animals and fitness.

About a year ago, Lisa and Young focused on getting healthy.

"She would make weird drinks and I would make smoothies and we'd compare them," Young said.

While Young experimented with turkey burgers, Lisa enticed her children with healthy salads.

"She lost 40 pounds. Over the year, she started working out. She was running and taking the dog for a run around the house," Young said. "She started feeling good and wanted to get other people involved."

Young, who lives in Oswego, said she didn't exercise with Lisa, but knew Lisa would go to Plainfield North and Plainfield South high schools to work out.

Lisa had looked forward to the summer, planning trips to the beach, the water park and museums with Zegar, a mother of three boys.

Zegar described Lisa as a true friend.

Young said when you talked, Lisa really listened

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/n...ING_S2.article

DNA test matches blood found on tarp with Lisa's
Police: She might not have voluntarily disappeared


May 20, 2007
staff report

Missing Plainfield woman Lisa Stebic's blood was found on a tarp recovered from husband Craig's vehicle, an unnamed police source said.
A DNA test determined that the blood on the tarp was Lisa's, and authorities used that information to convince a judge to issue a search warrant that was executed at the Stebic's Plainfield home late Monday night. Charles Pelkie, spokesman for Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, would neither confirm nor deny the report

 

[CW]

http://cbs2chicago.com/westsuburbanbureau/local_story_140180625.html


Neighbors Respond To News of Stebic Blood
Lisa Stebic's Blood Identified on Tarp Found in Husband's Car
SLIDESHOW: See The Week's News In Photos
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Joanie Lum
Reporting

(CBS) Plainfield, Ill. Blood from a missing Plainfield woman has reportedly been found in her husband's truck. CBS 2's Joanie Lum spoke with Lisa Stebic's neighbors about the new lead.

Sources told the Naperville Sun, the blood evidence convinced a judge to issue a search warrant of the Stebic's home last week.

Home video shows authorities impounding two vehicles.

The source says DNA from the blood-stained tarp found in Craig Stebic's truck matched Lisa Stebic.

The Stebic family has kept this case active through continuous media exposure, including volunteer searches and daily news conferences. A family spokeswoman said it's time to let police work on their investigation, issuing this statement.

"The family of Lisa Stebic was not aware of, and does not know the grounds on which the Plainfield Police Department obtained the search warrant executed at Lisa and Craig's home last Monday."

Neighbors say the lack of information about Lisa Stebic's disappearance is troubling.

"It's a horrible thing," said Stebic neighbor Clinton Kuchta. "She's missing. They can’t find her, but they don't know what's going on yet."

"I think we all want to put this to rest, find out what happened, be at ease," said neighbor Jim Cervenak.

Neighbors say they aren't sure what to think of Craig Stebic, who was in the process of divorcing Lisa when she disappeared.

"He acts like it's a normal life," said neighbor Lisa Maggio who lives next to Stebic. "He does landscaping, goes to and from work. He acts like it's normal day to day, like she's coming home tomorrow; he doesn't seem like a normal father of kids should act of a missing mother."

 

[CW]

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/394705,211NWS9.article


Before disappearance, Lisa Stebic was trying for a new start in lifeBy Catherine Ann Velasco Special to the Daily Southtown

At the time of her disappearance, Lisa Stebic loved butterflies because it symbolized her transformation.

In the middle of a divorce, Stebic started a fitness regimen, lost weight and looked forward to a life as a single mom, family and friends say.

To celebrate a new start in her life, Lisa got a butterfly tattoo on her lower back with her children's names on each side. She already had a small rose on her ankle with her daughter's name and wanted a tattoo with her son's name.

"A butterfly was her symbol right now because she was going through changes in her life," Melanie Greenberg, a family member, said.

Lisa had planned to get another tattoo with a smiley face before she disappeared April 30, a co-worker and friend, Ruby Zegar, said.

Today marks three weeks since the 37-year-old mother of two disappeared from her Plainfield home. Her husband, Craig, reported to Plainfield police that he hadn't seen his wife since she left their home with her purse and cell phone about 6 p.m. April 30. He said she left on foot or was picked up because her car was still in the driveway.

For Lisa's 38th birthday on Saturday, Kim Young -- Lisa's boss and friend at Sodexho Food Service -- and co-workers had planned to go out with her to celebrate. Young hired Lisa four years ago, developing a friendship based on common interests such as animals and fitness. About a year ago, Lisa and Young focused on getting healthy.

"She would make weird drinks and I would make smoothies, and we'd compare them," Young said.

Young, who lives in Oswego, said she didn't exercise with Lisa but knew that Lisa would go to Plainfield North and Plainfield South high schools to work out.

"She lost 40 pounds. Over the year, she started working out. She was running and taking the dog for a run," Young said. "She started feeling good and wanted to get other people involved."

Lisa looked forward to the summer, planning trips with Zegar, a mother of three boys. Zegar described Lisa as a true friend, and Young said when you talked, Lisa really listened.

"When she met you, she would retain something about you and ask you all these questions about your life and your family," Young said.

From the beginning

Greenberg -- the family spokeswoman whose husband, Mark, is a cousin of Stebic -- wouldn't grant a reporter an interview with the family, saying she's trying to protect Lisa's parents, who are retired and not able to travel. Lisa has an older sister, Debbie, and younger sister, Jamie.

 

[CW]

http://www.nbc5.com/news/13356252/detail.html


Judge Denies Craig Stebic's Motion For Full Custody
Man's Attorney Calls Ruling 'Disheartening'

POSTED: 6:39 am CDT May 21, 2007
UPDATED: 6:18 pm CDT May 22, 2007
CHICAGO -- His wife disappeared three weeks ago, but a Will County judge decided Tuesday that Craig Stebic shall not have full custody of his children.

NEW STORY--Records Show Stebics Financially Overextended
Images: Missing Mom
Video: New Evidence
Video: Husband Says Blood Is Deer's




Craig Stebic filed for temporary custody of his two children earlier this month after his wife, 37-year-old Lisa Stebic, disappeared from their west suburban home on April 30. Despite massive police searches, she remains missing.

A Will County judge rejected her husband's bid to gain sole custody of the kids, ruling Stebic hadn’t met the required legal standard and calling it "legally insufficient."

But Stebic will continue caring for the couple’s 10-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter.

The missing mother's family considered it a bizarre move.

Stebic's attorney, Dion Davi, said his client's wife might have been abducted or might be a runaway estranged wife, and he said for those reasons, the order should have been granted. Stebic — who filed earlier this year for divorce — didn’t attend the brief hearing.

The finding means that, if Lisa Stebic is OK and returns, she could take the children, said Davi, who called the ruling "disheartening."

Stebic still has parental rights over the children. No one has petitioned to take them away from him.

Despite her lengthy absence and reports that police found blood in Craig Stebic’s truck during a search after she vanished, Davi maintained that it’s still not clear whether Lisa Stebic vanished on her own or was abducted or killed.

"Of course, I don’t suspect foul play," Davi said.

He said Craig Stebic has cooperated with the search for Lisa Stebic "in every way possible that's reasonable."

Stebic has refused to take a polygraph test, Davi said, maintaining that the lie-detector isn’t reliable.

Lisa Stebic's continued absence likely will stall the couple’s ongoing divorce proceedings, Davi said.

 

[CW]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,274418,00.html


Family of Missing Illinois Mom Lisa Stebic Not Yet Casting Blame

The cousin of missing Illinois mom Lisa Stebic says her family is holding off casting blame on who may be responsible for her disappearance until evidence proves exactly what happened to her.

"The police have not told us they have a suspect," Mark Greenberg told FOX News on Monday. "The people pointing fingers at this point are the media."

Plainfield, Ill., police were able to obtain a warrant to search Stebic's home on May 14. Local news reports said they obtained the warrant because they had found traces of her blood on a tarp in her husband's vehicle.

But Dion Davi, the attorney for Stebic's husband, Craig, told FOX News that it's not yet clear whether the tarp was the cause for the warrant. Davi said that after two searches of the Stebic home earlier this month, he received from police an itemized list of what was taken from the home, which included the family computer. The tarp was not on the list for either of those two searches.

That means it may be something else police found after those two searches that prompted the May 14 warrant.

Unnamed police sources, as reported in local newspapers like The Naperville Sun and the Joliet Herald News, had said officials used the blood evidence to obtain the warrant by positing a scenario that her husband Craig, an avid hunter, might have used the tarp to transport his wife's body from the home.

Charles Pelkie, spokesman for Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, would neither confirm nor deny the report for the Sun, saying that "the contents of the warrant are under court seal."

But FOX News confirmed that the car the blood was found in was one of the family's two vehicles, a 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck. The family's other car was a 2004 four-door Saturn Ion. Both were registered to Craig Stebic, but Lisa used the Saturn. Both have been confiscated by police.

Craig Stebic has never been named a formal suspect in the case and has been compliant with police requests, according to Michelle Sigona, a correspondent for America's Most Wanted, which has profiled the Stebics' case. Craig Stebic gave police the family's computer but would not submit to a lie-detector test on the advice of his attorney, Sigona told FOX News. His divorce lawyer has advised him against submitting to the test.

"We just have to hold out hope as long as we possibly can," Greenberg told FOX News on Monday.

He said Lisa's family was "very concerned" about the couple's children, ages 10 and 12, and how they're holding up while their mother is missing. Greenberg said Craig Stebic brought the children to stay with another relative two weekends ago to take a break from the media frenzy surrounding the case.

"It's very important we try to preserve as much of a normal life as possible for these children," Greenberg said.

On Saturday, friends and family of Lisa Stebic gathered for a candlelight vigil to mark the mother of two's 38th birthday.

Stebic was last seen at about 6 p.m. April 30 at her Red Star Drive home in Plainfield, Ill.

She disappeared while her husband — from whom she was seeking a divorce — was in the backyard and her two children were out. She was reported missing by her husband the next day. Since then, there has been no activity on her cell phone or credit cards.

The search on May 14 was the first time authorities publicly acknowledged Stebic may be a victim of foul play.

"We need to focus part of our investigation on the fact that she may not have voluntarily disappeared," Plainfield Police Chief Don Bennett told the Sun.

It was reported May 17 that Stebic was trying to have her husband evicted from their Plainfield, Ill., home so the family could "live in peace."

Stebic's petition for temporary eviction stated he was being "unnecessarily relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering and verbally abusive." His behavior was "jeopardizing the mental well-being" of their children, she wrote.

Divorce proceedings began in December. The couple has lived in the same house since then but rarely spoke.

Craig Stebic's attorney, Dion Davi, denied the abuse allegations to the Chicago Tribune, noting the couple cited irreconcilable differences in their divorce action. He said Lisa Stebic was never in danger from her husband.

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/home/395090,5_1_JO21_STEBICWEB_S1.article


Craig Stebic unsurprised by discovery of blood


By JANET LUNDQUIST The Herald News
The blood police found in Craig Stebic's truck had to have come from a dead animal he hunted, the Plainfield resident said Monday afternoon.

Stebic dismissed a weekend news report that police found a tarp in his truck with his wife’s blood on it — evidence that reportedly led to a search warrant for his house and vehicles.

“We do a lot of hunting,” he said. “I know there’s blood all over the back of the truck. For them to find blood in the back of the truck doesn’t surprise me a bit.”

Police on Monday would not comment on the report, in which The Herald News’ partner The Naperville Sun cited an unnamed police source saying the bloody tarp was used to obtain a search warrant for the family’s house and vehicles.

Police Chief Don Bennett said the search warrant, and the authorities’ grounds for obtaining it, is under court seal.

Lisa Stebic’s family declined to comment, except to issue a statement saying they do not know the grounds on which the police department obtained the warrant.

When asked about a petition to evict him from the house that Lisa mailed to her attorney the day she disappeared, Stebic said he didn’t know anything about it.

“I don’t know what to think, say or do,” he said.

 

[CW]

May 22, 2007 5:53 am US/Central
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/lo...142071522.html


Report: Stebics May Have Had Financial Trouble
CBS 2 Legal Expert Says There's No Evidence Of A Crime Yet

(CBS/Naperville Sun) PLAINFIELD, Ill. Mortgages on the Plainfield home of Craig and Lisa Stebic exceed the home's value, public records show.

As CBS 2 News partner the Naperville Sun reports, while it is not uncommon for couples going through a divorce to find their main residence drained of its value, the records indicate that couple may have overextended themselves financially.
Within the past week, reports have surfaced that Craig Stebic recently was laid off from his job as a pipefitter, and Lisa Stebic was moving forward with a petition to evict Craig from the couple's shared home.

According to Lisa Stebic's petition, she earns less than $10,000 a year as a lunchroom worker and Craig Stebic had earned more than $80,000 annually at his union job.

While only liens on a property are public record, the couple's history of taking multiple mortgages on their Plainfield home and later refinancing for larger amounts shows they were looking for cash.

Assuming Craig and Lisa Stebic had no other outstanding debt such as credit cards or student loans, they are paying as much as $3,000 per month for the two outstanding mortgages on their property when taxes and homeowners insurance are included. Utilities and other household expenses, such as groceries, would be additional expenses the couple would have to cover each month.

The Stebics' Plainfield home that was purchased in 2000 for $208,411 now has $313,000 in mortgages on it, according to records from the Will County recorder of deeds' office. Many homeowners liquidate the equity in the homes, a mortgage broker said.

Each time the Stebics' Plainfield home increased in value, Craig Stebic took a second mortgage on the home.

According to documents obtained from the Will County recorder of deeds' office, those smaller second mortgages would later be rolled into a larger refinanced mortgage, the latest in 2002 for $248,000. But once again, a second mortgage was taken out two years later, drawing the equity from the home to the tune of an additional $65,000.



More at site

 

[CW]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,274637,00.html


Husband of Missing Illinois Mom Lisa Stebic Not Granted Sole Custody of Children


JOLIET, Ill. — The husband of missing Illinois mom Lisa Stebic was denied sole custody of the couple's two children Tuesday.

Craig Stebic's lawyer, Dion Davi, filed the legal motion after Lisa disappeared, arguing that his client was afraid that if and when Lisa ever came back, she may take off again, this time, with the children — Alexis, 12, and Zachary, 10. In family court on Tuesday, Davi argued that while Lisa has been missing for three weeks, she has not assisted with any parenting responsibilities.

Lisa's attorneys have filed on her behalf requesting that petition be denied. Judge Joseph Polito ruled that Craig's case had no merit and struck his motion from consideration.

Lisa's attorney, Glenn Kahn, told reporters after the hearing that the judgment has no impact on the kids and that they will remain under Craig's care, since he still has all of his legal rights.

But Davi countered that, saying it's "unfortunate" the court ruled this way, because Craig is subject to the loss of certain rights if his wife were to take the kids to another jurisdiction without his permission.

More to story.

 

[CW]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070523/ap_on_re_us/missing_woman;_ylt=Are_T4guElbIHO3KeDRYLGtvzwcF


Mystery surrounds missing Illinois woman By MEGAN REICHGOTT, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 23, 3:24 PM ET



PLAINFIELD, Ill. - On the day she vanished, Lisa Stebic mailed off a petition seeking to remove her husband from the suburban Chicago home the couple shared with their two children while going through a divorce.

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Stebic's husband was the last person to see her, but police have said he is not a suspect in the disappearance, and the search goes on for the woman whose face is now on fliers posted throughout this quiet village.

Just about everyone here has a theory about Stebic, who vanished on the evening of April 30. Her credit cards and cell phone have not been used since.

Authorities have searched the couple's home and vehicles, but a judge sealed the contents of the warrant.

"She wouldn't have just left," said Kimberly Young, Stebic's boss and friend, who saw Stebic the day she disappeared. "She did not leave that house of her own free will."

In the last three weeks, Stebic's family has offered a $20,000 reward, posted clips on the video-sharing Web site YouTube, created a Web site (http://www.findlisastebic.com ) and appeared on national news shows.

"We're using all different ways to try to reach as many different people as possible," said Melanie Greenberg, who is married to Stebic's cousin and acts as family spokeswoman.

The family is also in contact with husband Craig Stebic, and relatives try to visit the children often, Greenberg said. "He has called and asked me, 'How's it going with that Web site?'" she said.

The Stebics were divorcing but still lived together because Lisa Stebic did not want to upset her children's routine.

"She wanted her children to stay in their schools. She was trying to do whatever she could to make that happen," Greenberg said. "That meant staying in that house in a very difficult situation."

On the day she disappeared, Lisa Stebic had mailed off a petition seeking to remove her husband from the home. In the divorce case, she accused him of being "unnecessarily relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering and verbally abusive."

Stebic, whose 38th birthday was Saturday, had worked her normal shift in a nearby elementary school cafeteria on the day she disappeared. She was home when her 10-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter returned from school.

Craig Stebic has said that he saw his wife leave the house carrying only her cell phone and purse. He reported her missing the next morning.

The case took another twist when Craig Stebic, who has been caring for the children, filed for sole temporary custody, arguing it was a precaution in case his wife returned and attempted to take them away. A judge denied the request Tuesday.

Plainfield Deputy Chief Mark Eiting has repeatedly said Craig Stebic is not a suspect in the disappearance.

Dion Davi, an attorney who represents Craig Stebic in the divorce, said speculation swirling about his client hurts the children.

"He's holding strong, he has to. He has two children he has to think about. Their well-being is constantly on his mind," Davi said.

Craig Stebic declined to comment to The Associated Press.

The day she vanished, Lisa Stebic told her divorce attorney, Glenn Kahn, that she would send him a petition seeking to have Craig Stebic removed from the house, but otherwise acted normally, Kahn said. He later got the petition in the mail.

Court documents show the divorce proceedings have been contentious. Craig Stebic filed for divorce in January, citing irreconcilable differences.

A motion filed by Lisa Stebic claimed her husband, "both alone and in the presence of the minor children, is unnecessarily relentless, cruel, inconsiderate, domineering and verbally abusive, (and) is jeopardizing both Lisa's mental and physical well-being."

Davi said the allegations were made in the heat of a divorce battle

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/395563,4_1_JO22_MISSING_S1.article


Blood is from animal, Stebic says
3 weeks and Lisa's still missing; officials mum about evidence


BY JANET LUNDQUIST Staff Writer
PLAINFIELD -- Craig Stebic said Monday afternoon the blood police found in his truck had to have come from a dead animal he had hunted.

He had just walked into the house after picking his son up from school. Standing at the kitchen counter, he poured a dose of antacid for the 10-year-old, who had said his stomach was upset.

» Click to enlarge image

Three co-workers of Lisa Stebic, including Betty Stubner (center) and Linda Trepto (right) place flowers at the doorstep of the family home in Plainfield on Monday afternoon.
(Michael R Schmidt/Staff Photographer)

RELATED STORIES
• Stebics might have had money trouble
The family dog excitedly jumped up on the boy, who pulled a purple popsicle out of the freezer.

It's been three weeks since Lisa Stebic was reported missing. Seemingly disappearing without a trace, she was last seen about 6 p.m. April 30 at her house.

Her 38th birthday was Saturday, and her friends and family held a candlelight vigil in her honor that night.

Earlier Saturday, volunteers manned a booth at a local festival, passing out magnets and balloons with Lisa's picture, the family's Web site, findlisastebic.com, and the police department's tip line printed on them.

Craig said he and his kids stayed away from the weekend activities to shield the children from the media.

"I don't know what to think, say or do," he said.

Lawyer questions source
Stebic dismissed a weekend report that police found a tarp in his truck with his wife's blood on it -- evidence that reportedly led to a search of his house.
"We do a lot of hunting," he said, adding that any blood in his truck is likely from a dead animal. "I know there's blood all over the back of the truck. For them to find blood in the back of the truck doesn't surprise me a bit."

Police Monday would not comment on the report, in which The Herald News' partner The Naperville Sun cited an unnamed police source saying the bloody tarp was used to obtain a search warrant for the family's house and vehicles.

Stebic's attorney Dion Davi questioned the unnamed source, saying police provided a list of items taken from the two consensual searches authorities conducted at the Stebic house -- and a tarp isn't on the list.

"How accurate is this information?" Davi said. "On the other hand, if it is accurate, why was this information not provided in their list of items? It draws into question the veracity of the statements being made by this unnamed source."

Police Chief Don Bennett said the search warrant, and the authorities' grounds for obtaining it, is under court seal.

Lisa Stebic's family issued a statement saying they declined to comment on the police investigation, and that they do not know the grounds police used to obtain the warrant.

Some neighborhood residents who heard the weekend report didn't know what to make of it either.

"I don't know that I believe there was blood on the tarp," said one nearby resident. A picture of Lisa was taped to the window next to her front door. "I just don't know what to think about it."

Cindy Curulewski said she has worked out at Plainfield North High School with Lisa, last seeing her the Wednesday before she disappeared.

"I hope it's not (Craig Stebic)" who is responsible for Lisa's disappearance, she said. "But I don't know much about him either."

Coping with disappearance

 

[CW]

http://cbs2chicago.com/westsuburbanbureau/local_story_144075319.html


May 24, 2007 6:45 am US/Central

Craig Stebic Won't Let Police Talk To Kids
Court TV Anchor Says Foul Play Was Likely In Lisa Stebic's Disappearance
SLIDESHOW: Gunmen Kill Teller In Daylight Bank Robbery
SLIDESHOW: It's In To Be Out: Openly Gay Celebrities
VIEWER PHOTOS: Cicada Invasion
(CBS/Naperville Sun) PLAINFIELD, Ill. Investigators in Plainfield say Craig Stebic will not let them talk to his children about their mother's disappearance, and that he is no longer speaking to authorities himself.

His estranged wife, Lisa Stebic, has not been seen since April 30. Craig Stebic is no longer talking to police on the advice of his attorney.

He has also refused to allow police to question 12-year-old Lexi and 10-year-old Zach since investigators initially interviewed them just after their mom was reported missing May 1.

Deputy Chief Mark Eiting said Craig, as the children's legal guardian, can prohibit police from interviewing them.
"He has the right as the parent to not let us talk to the children," Eiting said.

But the Plainfield police do feel that the kids could be instrumental in the search for Lisa.

"I feel confident that the 10- and 12-year-old children want us to find the whereabouts of their mom," Plainfield Police Commander Mike Altenhoff told CBS 2.

Aside from visiting Lisa's two sisters two weekends ago, the children have remained home with their father when they are not at school.

Lexi attends Heritage Grove Middle School, and Zach goes to Walker's Grove Elementary School.

Family members have sheltered them from media attention, with Craig monitoring their television viewing.
A neighbor, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Lisa, says she occasionally has witnessed Craig or the children leaving and entering their home. As the "hot topic" in the neighborhood, the Stebic family is frequently the focus of conversations, she said.

The neighbor said she and many of her neighbors are concerned about Lexi and Zach continuing to live with Craig.
"I'm really scared for those children and that's really what everyone says, too," she said. "Who knows if he's going to snap with those children in the house."

Lisa Stebic disappeared the same day she petitioned for Craig to be evicted from the home. Craig said Lisa left for the gym and never came back.

On Wednesday night, CNN's Larry King interviewed Lisa Stebic's cousins – Mark and Melanie Greenberg, Craig Stebic's father, Joe, and court TV anchor Lisa Bloom.

While Bloom emphasized that Craig Stebic has not been called a suspect or person of interest in his wife's disappearance, she said women in abusive relationships are often in danger when it comes time to part ways, and she also said the circumstances of the case did suggest foul play.

"She had been exercising a lot, she lost about 40 pounds in the months since her disappearance, she got a tattoo of a butterfly on her back, symbolizing rebirth, and according to all her friends, she was looking forward to this divorce," Bloom said. "She was starting a new life and she was optimistic. So it's very odd, and it certainly does sound like foul play, that she would simply disappear and never be heard from again."

Joe Stebic told King his son has done nothing wrong. Lisa's cousins hope the national exposure from the show will help them find her.

Craig Stebic Has Faced Past Weapons Charges
Craig Stebic told reporters this week that his love of hunting was the reason police found blood on a tarp in the back of his truck. He said he was not surprised blood was found in his vehicle since he often uses it to transport animals.

An unnamed police source told The Naperville Sun blood was found on a tarp in the back of his truck that matched Lisa's. The discovery led to a search of the Stebic home late May 14.

Twelve years ago, he received six weapons-related charges as he was returning from one such trip.

Lincolnshire police stopped his truck Jan. 3, 1995, after they noticed his windshield was shattered.

Police found four weapons in the back of his truck, including two assault rifles. The weapons included a Chinese-made AK-47 semiautomatic assault rifle, a Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle, a Universal 10-gauge double-barrel shotgun, and a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum semiautomatic handgun.

Craig was charged with two felonies and six misdemeanors. The most serious charge was a felony offense of possessing firearms within 1,000 feet of a school.

Stebic told police he had just returned from hunting in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Police said Stebic was cooperative.

Friends also say Craig has a large collection of guns. When police searched the Stebics' home last week, they were acting on information that Craig had two .50-caliber weapons in his possession, according to the police source.

 

[CW]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/index.html


No questioning for Stebic kids

May 24, 2007
By Paige Winfield sun-times news group
Craig Stebic is keeping his two children under wraps as the search continues for his missing wife, Lisa.

He has not allowed police to question his 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son since investigators initially interviewed them just after their mom was reported missing May 1.

» Click to enlarge image

Family members have tried to keep Craig and Lisa's children, 12-year-old daughter Lexi (left) and 10-year-old son Zac, out of the media spotlight. These photos were taken at a vigil for their missing mother two weeks ago.

(STNG file photos)

RELATED STORIES
• Stebic story continues
Lisa's cell phone and credit cards have not been used since she disappeared. Officials have not named any suspect or person of interest in the case.

Deputy Chief Mark Eiting said, as the children's legal guardian, Craig can prohibit police from interviewing the children.

"He has the right as the parent to not let us talk to the children," Eiting said.

Aside from visiting Lisa's sisters two weekends ago, the children have remained home with their father when they are not at school.

Family members have sheltered the children from media attention, with Craig monitoring their television viewing.

The 'hot topic'
A woman, who only wanted to be identified by her first name, Lisa, is a neighbor who lives a block away from the family. She says she occasionally has witnessed Craig or the children leaving and entering their home. As the "hot topic" in the neighborhood, the Stebic family is frequently the focus of conversations, she said.
Lisa said she and many of her neighbors are concerned that the Stebic children continue to live with Craig.

"I'm really scared for those children and that's really what everyone says, too," the neighbor said. "Those children should not be in the public eye with all this going on. ..."