Judge orders cops to release Stebic's guns

A judge has ordered the Illinois State Police to hand over 24 guns seized from a suburban Chicago man whose wife has been missing for more than a year to a friend of the man.

Will County Judge Richard Schoenstedt also ordered authorities Friday to return Craig Stebic's pickup truck, seized as part of the investigation into the April 2007 disappearance of Lisa Stebic.

The guns and truck are scheduled to be returned Monday.

The state police revoked Stebic's firearm owner's card this year. The judge previously said he would return the weapons to someone other than Stebic if that person had a valid gun card.

Stebic has been named a "person of interest" by police in the disappearance of his wife but hasn't been charged with any crime.