Judge denies Stebic request

JOLIET -- A Will County judge Thursday denied Craig Stebic's attempt to block his missing wife's family from seeking visits with his kids.

Stebic, whose wife, Lisa, has been missing since April 30, had filed a motion to dismiss a petition from Lisa's parents and grandparents for visitation rights to Stebic's two children, ages 11 and 12.

Lisa's parents, Lawrence and Judith Ruttenberg, and grandparents, Milton and Charlotte Ruttenberg, filed the petition in November, after they say an attempt to work out visits with Stebic was not successful.

Stebic's attorney Dion Davi said Stebic offered visits with the children in his home, which were declined by Lisa's family. Lisa's family said Craig's offer of restricted visits, supervised by him, was unreasonable, and noted in court records that Stebic directs a "great deal of animosity" toward them.

Davi argued that Lisa's family claims Craig is an unfit parent and has unreasonably denied visits, but that they offer no explanation or proof of those claims.

Timothy Daw, Lisa's family's attorney, said the case has not yet reached the "proof" stage.

"Whether this is an unreasonable denial (of visitation) is going to be a matter of proof and discovery," he said.

"Mr. Stebic now admits the grandparents and great-grandparents have been prevented from seeing the kids for two years. But he blames Lisa, the one who can't talk," Daw said. "It was her idea."

Lisa's family claims Craig was the one who cut off contact with Lisa's parents.

Lisa Stebic was reported missing May 1, the morning after she was last seen at her Plainfield home.

In July, police named Craig Stebic a "person of interest" -- which Plainfield Police Chief Don Bennett has equated with being a suspect -- in her disappearance.

Craig Stebic has not been charged in connection with the case, which remains a missing person investigation.

Lisa's family is planning an event to commemorate her life around the one-year anniversary of her disappearance. Family spokeswoman and Lisa's cousin Melanie Greenberg said the event is tentatively planned as a fundraiser, with the proceeds to be donated to Guardian Angel Community Services in Joliet.

A reward fund started by Lisa's family for information leading to her whereabouts is up to $73,000.

Anyone with information about Lisa Stebic's case is asked to call the Plainfield Police Department at (815) 267-7217 or Will County Crime Stoppers at (800) 323-6734.