May 10, 2007
More than a week has passed since a Plainfield mother of two vanished without a trace from her home on Red Star Drive. The search continues for 37-year-old Lisa Stebic, who was reported missing May 1.
The Sun has compiled this list of key events leading up to and since Lisa Stebic's disappearance from reports published this week. Some of the entries reflect conflicting accounts of events from family, friends and authorities.
1995
Craig Stebic was arrested in Lake County and faced two felony counts and four misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a weapon, according to published media reports. Police found a 10-gauge double-barrel shotgun, a .44 magnum semi-automatic pistol, a Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle and an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle in his pickup truck. He reportedly received supervision for the offenses.
December 2006
Plainfield police were called to the home of Craig and Lisa Stebic at 13244 Red Star Drive for a report of a nonviolent verbal fight between the couple.
• In an interview this past week, Craig said he called police after his wife showed up intoxicated after being out all night. A friend of Lisa's said that Lisa told her Craig locked her out of the house.
January 2007
Craig Stebic, 41, filed for divorce from Lisa Stebic, 37, after 14 years of marriage. According to court records, Craig cites irreconcilable differences. Lisa and Craig both seek joint custody of their children with Lisa as the residential custodial parent; child support and division of their marital property. Lisa Stebic also seeks alimony. The couple has two children, 12-year-old Lexi and 10-year-old Zac.
April 2007
Lisa Stebic posted profiles on aerobicfriends.com and health.exercisefriends.com looking for female friends to work out with.
April 30, 2007
Craig Stebic said he last saw Lisa, a Sodexho Food Service worker at Plainfield's Lincoln Elementary School, at about 6 p.m. in their house.
Lisa is said to have left the house with her purse and cell phone. Craig said Lisa either left on foot or was picked up because her car remains at the family's home. Craig said he was working in the backyard and the couple's children were out of the house during the time his wife left. It was reported Lisa would work out at Plainfield North High School in the evenings fairly frequently.
May 1, 2007
Lisa Stebic was reported missing on this day.
• While police say a neighbor reported Lisa missing, Craig's divorce attorney Dion Davi says Craig was the one to make the call to police.
May 3, 2007
Plainfield police officers and Plainfield Emergency Management Agency personnel searched the park across the street from the Stebic's house in the afternoon because Lisa reportedly walked and jogged there in the past.
The Web site
www.findlisastebic.com went live in the evening, taking the search public.
May 4, 2007
Lisa Stebic's cousin, Naperville resident Mark Greenberg, and his wife, Melanie, held a press conference in front of Lisa's house. Greenberg said "the family is in anguish" and that "this isn't like Lisa. She would never leave her children."
May 6, 2007
More than 100 volunteers met at Walker's Grove Elementary School in Plainfield to plaster fliers with Lisa's picture and description around the area.
May 7, 2007
Plainfield police told reporters they have no reason to suspect foul play so far in the Stebic disappearance. They have investigated Craig Stebic's computer records, spoken to his friends and associates and interviewed Stebic himself several times. Plainfield Deputy Police Chief Mark Eiting, when asked if Craig was a suspect or person of interest in the investigation, said no - not at this point.
Police also told reporters Lisa's cell phone and credit cards have not been used since her disappearance April 30.
Friends of Lisa Stebic told media she was frightened by Craig and was attending counseling at the Guardian Angel Home of Joliet, an agency that provides services to battered women. Friends also say Lisa suffered verbal abuse from her husband, and after divorce proceedings began, would sleep on the living room sofa, where she kept a purse with her personal belongings constantly by her side.
May 8, 2007
Mark and Melanie Greenberg announced at a press conference in Chicago a $20,000 reward for information leading to Lisa Stebic's whereabouts.
Craig Stebic reportedly refused to take a polygraph test scheduled for Tuesday by Plainfield police.
• However, Stebic later told media that he hadn't ruled out taking the test and wanted to but was acting on the advice of Davi, who told him not to do so. Police confirm they've asked Stebic to take the polygraph test, and he said no, but they also say Stebic has been working with the police in other regards. The Greenbergs said they hope Craig will reconsider and take the polygraph.
Craig Stebic supposedly does not answer the door when FBI agents show up on his doorstep. No one answers the door at the family's home when the agents arrive and knock.
Stebic tells reporters he believes the police consider him a suspect.
May 9, 2007
A candlelight vigil for Lisa took place at 6:30 p.m. in a gazebo at Red Star and Blakely drives near the Stebic's house.
Almost 40,000 hits were reported on
www.findlisastebic.com, which also now includes a YouTube video reaching out to the worldwide online video community for their help in finding Lisa. By now, hundreds of people have posted messages of support on the site. Earlier in the day, several posts appeared to attack Craig, but later postings encouraged only messages of support and prayer be left to help the family through this difficult time.
Craig Stebic is quoted in media reports as refuting the claims that Lisa was scared of him, that he was verbally abusive and that she was receiving counseling.
May 19, 2007
Today will be Lisa Stebic's 38th birthday.
