One2Snoop
04-28-2008, 08:07 PM
1 year later, disappearance of Stebic haunts
Amid the pain of an unsolved mystery, her parents hold out hope that their daughter will be found
http://i26.tinypic.com/2zozvvr.jpg
Stuffed animals and Lisa Stebic's missing person flier were still posted at the gazebo in Lisa Stebic's neighborhood on Red Star Drive in Plainfield, Ill. in December. (Tribune photo by Chuck Berman / December 26, 2007)
By Erika Slife | Tribune reporter
April 27, 2008
Judy Ruttenberg moves through her day focused on one task at a time: get out of bed, make breakfast, wash dishes, check in with police.
This has been her life since her daughter Lisa Stebic disappeared one year ago. She and her husband rarely muster the energy to even go out for dinner. And when they do, "our conversation revolves around what we could do, where can we go from here . . . to help bring Lisa home. It's always—every day and every night," she said.
Related links
Search for Lisa Stebic Photos
Judge in Stebic visitation case seeks more data from missing woman's kin
Since April 30, the mystery of Lisa's disappearance has unleashed crushing grief on those who love her, while a small cadre of Plainfield and Will County investigators works full time to find answers. The case remains the No. 1 priority of Plainfield police, who say they always have at least one detective working it. The state's attorney's office has enlisted a special grand jury to help. Leads still trickle in.
"I've taken it personal. I know that our investigators have taken the case on as personal," said Detective Sgt. Troy Kivisto. "We owe it to Lisa and all of her family members to find out where she is and what happened to her and who is responsible for her disappearance."
Though the trail may seem cold and the case overshadowed by the more sensational missing-woman saga of Stacy Peterson in nearby Bolingbrook, Lisa Stebic's family and local authorities say they're confident it will be solved. The Peterson case, with its scores of investigators, has stolen the spotlight that can generate leads, but the frequent searches in the area for Peterson could lead to Stebic, police say.
As in the Peterson investigation, suspicion in the Stebic case fell on her husband, Craig. His attorney, George Lenard, called it tunnel vision last week and noted the focus is so intense, police have trained two video cameras on his client's house. Craig Stebic, the last person to see Lisa, has not been charged.
On Sunday, Lisa's family will join with the community for a walk in her name at 1 p.m. at the Village Green in Plainfield. Proceeds will be donated to Guardian Angel Community Services, which offers domestic violence crisis services. Hundreds are expected to come out.
Lisa's older sister, Debbie Ruttenberg, said the disappearance "leaves an immense hole in our lives. . . . And with this whole experience, I think we're finding she's now touched thousands of lives. I consider Lisa a remarkable gift and blessing."
She was about to turn 38 when she vanished. The day before, she had lounged poolside with her neighbor and good friend, Laurrie Bingenheimer, giggling about the possibilities her future could bring—like dating.
"She was happy. The last day, I remember her smiling that smile," Bingenheimer said.
The women basked in unseasonable warmth. Lisa's two children scampered around the pool, still covered from the winter. The women's husbands, also friends, sat just inside the house with the screen open. The women's conversation was not hushed.
Her divorce seemed near, and she was ready to embrace the new Lisa after 14 years of marriage. She was in great shape from dieting and exercising every day. Lisa showed off her hard work, wearing a bikini that showed something else new: a large butterfly tattoo on her back.
Always independent, she was ready to fly on her own.
On May 1, Craig Stebic called Bingenheimer to ask where Lisa was. Bingenheimer, unable to find her, called police and Debbie Ruttenberg. Lisa's mom was at the library when the phone rang.
"The librarian was telling me I couldn't have the phone on, and Debbie was saying to me, 'Are you home?' and she was crying hysterically. I can't even remember getting in my car or driving home."
Judy Ruttenberg ran inside her house and screamed for her husband. Debbie called back and told them: Lisa had disappeared.
"Immediately we thought the worst. We knew something horrific had happened, because Lisa would never, ever leave her children," her mother said.
Lisa is the second of three daughters. She grew up in Libertyville, part of a large, tight-knit Jewish family.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-lisa-stebic_bd_27apr27,0,3734628.story
Amid the pain of an unsolved mystery, her parents hold out hope that their daughter will be found
http://i26.tinypic.com/2zozvvr.jpg
Stuffed animals and Lisa Stebic's missing person flier were still posted at the gazebo in Lisa Stebic's neighborhood on Red Star Drive in Plainfield, Ill. in December. (Tribune photo by Chuck Berman / December 26, 2007)
By Erika Slife | Tribune reporter
April 27, 2008
Judy Ruttenberg moves through her day focused on one task at a time: get out of bed, make breakfast, wash dishes, check in with police.
This has been her life since her daughter Lisa Stebic disappeared one year ago. She and her husband rarely muster the energy to even go out for dinner. And when they do, "our conversation revolves around what we could do, where can we go from here . . . to help bring Lisa home. It's always—every day and every night," she said.
Related links
Search for Lisa Stebic Photos
Judge in Stebic visitation case seeks more data from missing woman's kin
Since April 30, the mystery of Lisa's disappearance has unleashed crushing grief on those who love her, while a small cadre of Plainfield and Will County investigators works full time to find answers. The case remains the No. 1 priority of Plainfield police, who say they always have at least one detective working it. The state's attorney's office has enlisted a special grand jury to help. Leads still trickle in.
"I've taken it personal. I know that our investigators have taken the case on as personal," said Detective Sgt. Troy Kivisto. "We owe it to Lisa and all of her family members to find out where she is and what happened to her and who is responsible for her disappearance."
Though the trail may seem cold and the case overshadowed by the more sensational missing-woman saga of Stacy Peterson in nearby Bolingbrook, Lisa Stebic's family and local authorities say they're confident it will be solved. The Peterson case, with its scores of investigators, has stolen the spotlight that can generate leads, but the frequent searches in the area for Peterson could lead to Stebic, police say.
As in the Peterson investigation, suspicion in the Stebic case fell on her husband, Craig. His attorney, George Lenard, called it tunnel vision last week and noted the focus is so intense, police have trained two video cameras on his client's house. Craig Stebic, the last person to see Lisa, has not been charged.
On Sunday, Lisa's family will join with the community for a walk in her name at 1 p.m. at the Village Green in Plainfield. Proceeds will be donated to Guardian Angel Community Services, which offers domestic violence crisis services. Hundreds are expected to come out.
Lisa's older sister, Debbie Ruttenberg, said the disappearance "leaves an immense hole in our lives. . . . And with this whole experience, I think we're finding she's now touched thousands of lives. I consider Lisa a remarkable gift and blessing."
She was about to turn 38 when she vanished. The day before, she had lounged poolside with her neighbor and good friend, Laurrie Bingenheimer, giggling about the possibilities her future could bring—like dating.
"She was happy. The last day, I remember her smiling that smile," Bingenheimer said.
The women basked in unseasonable warmth. Lisa's two children scampered around the pool, still covered from the winter. The women's husbands, also friends, sat just inside the house with the screen open. The women's conversation was not hushed.
Her divorce seemed near, and she was ready to embrace the new Lisa after 14 years of marriage. She was in great shape from dieting and exercising every day. Lisa showed off her hard work, wearing a bikini that showed something else new: a large butterfly tattoo on her back.
Always independent, she was ready to fly on her own.
On May 1, Craig Stebic called Bingenheimer to ask where Lisa was. Bingenheimer, unable to find her, called police and Debbie Ruttenberg. Lisa's mom was at the library when the phone rang.
"The librarian was telling me I couldn't have the phone on, and Debbie was saying to me, 'Are you home?' and she was crying hysterically. I can't even remember getting in my car or driving home."
Judy Ruttenberg ran inside her house and screamed for her husband. Debbie called back and told them: Lisa had disappeared.
"Immediately we thought the worst. We knew something horrific had happened, because Lisa would never, ever leave her children," her mother said.
Lisa is the second of three daughters. She grew up in Libertyville, part of a large, tight-knit Jewish family.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-lisa-stebic_bd_27apr27,0,3734628.story