Divers found no trace of a missing Plainfield woman after spending more than four hours Friday searching a handful of retention ponds near her house.
Lisa Stebic, 37, a mother of two, was last seen inside her home in the 13200 block of Red Star Drive about 6 p.m. April 30.
Forty-four divers began about 9 a.m. and finished at 1:30 p.m., in order to be gone before Stebic’s two children returned from school to spare them further grief.
“When you look at something like this, it’s pretty overwhelming, especially with their house in such close proximity,” said Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton.
Divers were instructed to look through the murky green water for clothing, a purse or any other personal items that could provide leads in the case, officials said. They found nothing other than a large, empty trash bin unrelated to her disappearance.
Stebic’s husband, Craig, told investigators he did not see her leave that day. The Stebics live together but are getting a divorce.
Police Chief Donald Bennett said tips are coming in slowly. The family is offering a $20,000 reward.
“We have no additional leads in the last couple of days, but there are some loose ends we need to put together,” he said.
The Stebic family held a news conference after the search, saying they were going to think positively about the lack of findings.
“Our hope is that Lisa is still out there and will come home safe and healthy to her family,” said her cousin Mark Greenberg.
The family will distribute hundreds of carnations on Mother’s Day bearing Stebic’s picture and a phone number of the Plainfield Police Department — 815-267-7217 — in hopes that it will produce information to help bring her home for the holiday.
“It’s a very hard Mother’s Day this year,” Greenberg’s wife, Melanie, said, referring to the Stebic children, 10 and 12.
The Plainfield Emergency Management Agency is spearheading a search Saturday and asking volunteers to report to Lincoln Elementary School, 14740 Meadow Lane, at 8 a.m. for registration and a briefing. Searchers plan to cover large bodies of water, retention ponds, bike and jogging paths and other open spaces.
jnapolitano@tribune.com
