Dec 22, 2007 10:29 pm US/Central
Lisa Stebic's Family Fights To Visit Her Children
Lisa's Family Claims Craig Stebic Has Kept Children Away
PLAINFIELD, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
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Lisa Stebic has been missing for nearly eight months.
CBS
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Craig Stebic says he has arranged for visits between his children and Lisa's family.
CBS
Lisa Stebic's parents and grandparents are fighting their son-in-law to court for the right to visit his children.
In a petition filed Nov. 19 in Will County Circuit Court, they claim Craig Stebic, of Plainfield, has prohibited contact between his children and his missing wife's parents and grandparents.
Dion Davi, Craig Stebic's attorney, said Stebic has offered visits with the children, ages 11 and 12, to the Ruttenberg family and received no response.
"We are disappointed that we were forced to file this motion," said Melanie Greenberg, a spokeswoman for Lisa's family. "The pleading speaks for itself."
In a press release, Greenberg says: "the petition asks the court to appoint a professional counselor to help evaluate what is in the children's best interests in reconnecting with their grandparents and great-grandparents."
She goes on to say Lisa's parents and grandparents are very concerned that the "extremely limited visitation" restrictions and conditions imposed by Stebic's attorney could cause the children emotional distress.
Lisa's parents, Lawrence and Judith Ruttenberg, live in Florida, while her grandparents, Milton and Charlotte Ruttenberg, live in Wheeling.
On Friday, a judge continued a hearing on a motion by the Ruttenbergs to have the Stebic children undergo a psychological examination.
They believe the evaluation, which they have requested be done without lawyers present, would help determine whether visits with them would be in the children's best interest. The hearing was rescheduled for early January.
Wheaton attorney Timothy Daw, who represents the Ruttenbergs, declined to comment after the court appearance.
"We want this to have the least amount of attention, not the most," he said as he stepped into an elevator in the courthouse.
Lisa's family has said her parents have not had a civil conversation with Craig since 1995. Craig had forbidden them from talking to Lisa or her children for about the past two years, according to Lisa's family.
Lisa Stebic has been missing since April 30. Police have said Craig is a suspect in her disappearance. She was apparently last seen by him at their home.
In October, Lisa's two sisters, who had been visiting the Stebics, said Craig had forbidden them from seeing the kids. Craig reportedly told them the fliers, posters and billboards about Lisa's disappearance were too upsetting for the children.
The petition filed by the Ruttenbergs states they believe it is in the children's best interest to spend time with them and with Lisa's sisters.
Davi said Lisa's parents have not participated in searches for their daughter.
"I question where the children's grandparents have been this entire time while Lisa has been missing," Davi said. "This is the first time we're even hearing from them or about them."
Stebic has not attended the searches either, on Davi's advice. Davi has said he believes the media focus on Craig would have detracted from the events.
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(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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