Jul 1, 2007 5:48 pm US/Central
Stebic Family Holds Fundraiser To Help In Search
Money From Event Will Go To Help With Silver Spring Search Next Saturday
by Mike Puccinelli
PLAINFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ―
The Plainfield Jaycees is refusing to let the case of a missing Plainfield mother fade from the headlines. CBS 2's West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports on the organized event that helped raise money to continue the search for Lisa Stebic.
Every time an adult bellied up to the breakfast line at Ira Jones Middle School Sunday, $10 more was raised for the "Find Lisa Stebic Fund." One of those who ponied up was Gordon Marsh. He nerver knew Lisa Stebic, but felt compelled to come out.
"I don't like when people are missing, gone out of the blue," said Marsh. "Not here, not there…it's a bad feeling."
For Stebic's family and loved ones, the last nine weeks have been a nightmare made real.
"We just feel empty," said Jamie Bouma, Lisa Stebic's sister. "There's a missing link between us. We just want her to come home to us.
But she hasn't been seen since April when her husband says she left their Plainfield home to go work out. There haven't been any breakthroughs in the investigation. So the family is hoping next Saturday's search of Silver Spring Park in Yorkville might provide some sign of Lisa.
"There is a possibility she is there," said Leigh Harris, Stebic family spokesperson. "The family has been known to go to that park to camp, hunt and fish."
The park is more than 1,300 acres, that's why the family is asking for volunteers to show up next Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, Route 71 and East High Point Road. From there, they will be divided into teams, loaded onto buses and dropped off at the search area.
Lisa's older sister says it's the generosity of such volunteers that is keeping them going.
"I think the prayers and thoughts and everybody's energy is really what's keeping us together," said Debbie Ruttenberg, Lisa's sister.
It's an endeavor that together and united as a family and a community with the single goal of bringing Lisa Stebic home.
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