Jul 7, 2007 5:42 pm US/Central
Stebic Search In State Park Pushed On Despite Heat
Family Thanks Numerous Volunteers Who Helped In Search
by Mike Puccinelli
YORKVILLE, Ill. (CBS) ―
The oppressive heat didn't stop the massive search for a suburban mother missing for more than two months. Hundreds of volunteers combed Silver Springs State Park in Yorkville for any signs of Lisa Stebic. CBS 2's West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports on the huge show of support for the family.
There was well-earned applause for volunteers who woke up early to help search for a Plainfield mother who has been missing for more than nine weeks and most of them never met Lisa Stebic.
"I have a daughter, granddaughter and sisters and I thought if it was one of them, I would want everyone to help me look for them," said Kathleen Michael, a search volunteer.
Hundreds of others were similarly moved to sign on to help search the more than 1,300 acres of Silver Springs State Park in Yorkville.
"This is a part of our investigation and we knew the family has visited the park several times and we wanted to search this area," said Plainfield Deputy Police Chief Mark Eiting.
After they were briefed, searchers were divided into teams and loaded on buses.
Lisa's two sisters were on one of the buses. They say the outpouring of love and support is what helping them carry on.
"It's impossible without this outpouring," said Stebic's sister, Debbie Ruttenberg. "Not only the task itself of getting out here and looking at this park and doing some searches, but the emotional support. It's just touching."
Police divided the park into grids. As the searchers fanned out across the park, police had several cadaver dog teams on standby. The group Ruttenberg was working with found a towel, a sheet and some sheet metal.
"Maybe they'll mean something, maybe they don't," Ruttenberg said.
But what is clear is how hard it was for Stebic's sister's to take part in a search where success could lead to their worst fears being realized.
"It's hard you know," said Jamie Bouma. "The support, it helps -- helps us get through the day."
Family members are offering a reward of more than $60,000 for information about her whereabouts.
Craig Stebic was not involved in the search Saturday. Family members say he was with his kids who had just returned from a vacation.
It was the biggest search for Stebic since she disappeared April 30. Craig Stebic, Lisa's husband, has not spoken with police since the ninth day after her disappearance. When he did speak to authorities, he never mentioned Silver Springs State Park in Yorkville – one of the reasons, CBS 2 is told, a search will take place there.
Lisa was known to visit the 1,300-acre state park on a regular basis. Previously, a psychic's advice spearheaded four smaller searches there. One search turned up bones, but they turned out to be from a deer.
One person who was not expected to help with the search was Craig Stebic. Plainfield police say they are not surprised.
"He says to media outlets, he says to his family that he's cooperating and yet he hasn't appeared," he said. "He appeared at one vigil and, from my understanding, that's at the prodding of some of the family and friends to get him to go to that. He hasn't attended any of the searches. He doesn't appear to be a man that's really interested."
Plainfield police said Lisa Stebic's credit cards and cell phone have not been used since her disappearance, and the case remains a missing persons case.
Recently on a blog about Lisa Stebic, an anonymous poster wrote of a development that will generate headlines next week.
CBS 2 asked Plainfield Police Department Operations Commander Mike Altenhoff about the chances that Craig Stebic will be named a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife. Altenhoff said it was "something we continually talk about."
Any decision will be based partly on the result of forensic evidence currently being tested in the state crime lab.
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