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May 9, 2007 11:14 pm US/Central

Vigil Held For Missing Plainfield Woman

Meanwhile, Woman's Husband Temporarily Seeking Sole Custody Of Children Who Already Live With Him

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CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli and Rob Johnson contributed to this report.

PLAINFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ― Family, friends and co-workers held a vigil Wednesday evening for a missing mother from Plainfield. Meantime, the woman's husband took a drastic step to try to keep custody of their children.

As CBS 2's Rob Johnson reports, Lisa Stebic was first reported missing nine days ago, but loved ones have not given up hope of finding her.

It was an emotional walk for Craig Stebic, Lisa's estranged husband, and the couple's 12- and 10-year-old children as he joined other family and friends in a nearby park to pray for Lisa's safe return.

"We always knew how much Lisa was loved, but to see it here like this today, it really means a lot," said Lisa Stebic's cousin, Melanie Greenberg.

As CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports, they were uniting in a public show of support just as Stebic's husband took legal action against her.

Craig Stebic has filed for sole custody of their children, even while Lisa remains missing.

Lisa Stebic has one week to respond to that legal action, or she can appear in court on May 22 and contest it.

Neither Craig Stebic nor his attorney wanted to discuss the motion directly.

"The focus does not need to be on him," said Dion Davi, Craig's attorney. "We need to use every [bit] of man power we have in finding Lisa."

Lisa Stebic's cousin and sister stopped by her home Wednesday to talk with Craig Stebic about his missing wife.

There has been no sign of Lisa since last Monday, despite a $20,000 reward, national interest in her case and more than 34,000 hits on the website findlisastebic.com.

Craig Stebic, on the advice of his attorney, refused to take a polygraph test Tuesday. But Mark Greenberg, Lisa's cousin, says the subject didn't come up in their 90 minute conversation today.

Greenburg didn't want to speculate on Craig's guilt or innocence. "Craig appears very distraught. It's a difficult time. He's part of the family," Greenburg said.

Craig's father said his son has been advised not to talk with the media. He says he doesn't believe Craig had anything to do with Lisa's disappearance.

"He told me, he said 'Dad I had nothing to do with this.' That's what he told me. I asked him yesterday," Craig's father said.

Earlier in the day, Craig's divorce attorney confirmed that he filed an emergency motion in Will County Court to temporarily grant Craig sole custody of the children.

His attorney said he filed the motion as a "protection for the children and my client."

CBS Legal Analyst Irv Miller says it's unusual.

"There are no reasons that make this an emergency for him to go into court to get temporary custody of his own kids who live in his own house," Miller said.

Craig's attorney also says he hopes that investigators do not become fixated on Craig individually.

In Iron County Michigan, Craig's cousin confirmed that sheriff's department investigators on Friday searched a home that Craig co-owns with his father. Plainfield police said they didn't find anything.

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"There are no reasons that make this an emergency for him to go into court to get temporary custody of his own kids who live in his own house," CBS Legal Analyst Irv Miller said.

: Lisa Stebic's friends and family came together Wednesday evening to pray for her safe return.
CBS
: Craig Stebic's attorneys on Wednesday filed a motion temporarily seeking sole custody of his children, more than a week after his wife, Lisa, went missing. (File Photo)
CBS
: Lisa Stebic (File Photo)