Lisa Stebic -- Missing 4/30/07

Remembering Lisa

May 16, 2010
By JANET LUNDQUIST



PLAINFIELD -- Thirty-seven purple balloons blew in the wind Saturday evening, along with four white ones.

The purple balloons represented the years Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic was around to celebrate her birthday -- the four were for the birthdays she has been missing.

"(Lisa) laughed loud. She was fun," said Melanie Greenberg, Lisa's cousin and a family spokeswoman. "She loved every celebration."

Vigil for Lisa

Lisa would have turned 41 on Wednesday, May 19. On Saturday night, her friends, family and those who support them gathered at a park near her house to remember her through prayers, birthday wishes and a candlelight vigil.

Laurie Long, of Naperville attended the vigil, having met Lisa's family and friends during searches for Lisa after her 2007 disappearance.

"We still want her found. We still want justice for her," Long said.

A picnic table was set up with photos of Lisa, flowers and a birthday cake with "We love you Lisa" written on it in purple icing.

"I think it would mean a lot to her if we could find where her remains are and bring the person responsible to justice," said Betty Stubner, who worked with Lisa in the cafeteria at Lincoln Elementary School in Plainfield.

Seeing the gathering in her honor "would warm her. It would warm her heart," Stubner said. She said thinks about Lisa often, as well as Lisa's children, now ages 13 and 15, and how they need their mother.

Missing mom

Lisa, 37, was reported missing the morning of May 1, 2007. She was last seen at her Plainfield home the evening before.

Her husband, Craig Stebic, who has been named a "person of interest" in her disappearance by Plainfield police, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Lisa's disappearance. He has not been charged in connection with the case.

Craig was home Saturday during the vigil, but declined to comment.

Lisa was last seen about 6 p.m. April 30, 2007. Craig has said he was working in the backyard when he thought he heard Lisa leave for a nightly workout.

But Lisa's car was still parked in the driveway. Her purse and cell phone were also gone. Police say there has been no activity on her cell phone or credit cards since.

Investigation

On April 30, the third anniversary of Lisa's disappearance, authorities announced the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force would review and reinvestigate the case.

The task force, which began operation in May 2009, includes more than 50 officers from 36 law enforcement agencies, the FBI and state police.

Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow said he and a team of investigators will conduct a "full-blown homicide investigation."

"It was encouraging," Greenberg said, adding that Lisa's family is simultaneously frustrated that there has been no resolution to the case after three years.

"The person who did this to her wanted to erase her," Greenberg said. "All these people here say no, she will not be erased. She will not be forgotten."

Greenberg said her family will keep a close eye on the upcoming murder trial of Drew Peterson, mainly to see what hearsay the judge allows into evidence.

"(Glasgow) has told me, he told the family, that (the hearsay law) could definitely apply in this case as well," Greenberg said.

There is still more than $75,000 in a reward account for any information leading to Lisa's whereabouts. If the reward is never claimed, the money will be transferred to a college fund for the Stebic children.

Anyone with information on Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic's location is asked to call the Plainfield Police Department at 815-267-7217 or Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734. For more information, visit www.findlisastebic.com .

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/2278730,4_1_JO16_STEBIC_S1-100516.article

What a nice way to recognize Lisa's birthday. It's another one of those "into thin air" with the husband being the last to see her. It sounds as if he was home during the vigil, but did not attend?