Missing Los Angeles FBI Agent May Be Armed, Suicidal

May 13, 2012— -- Police are searching mountainous terrain today for an FBI special agent who disappeared from his Burbank, Calif., home and could be suicidal.

Stephen Ivens, 35, was last seen at the home he shared with his wife and 1-year-old son Thursday evening. His family reported him missing the next morning.

"I can't get into the details of why we think he's suicidal, but we have been in discussion with his family and based on just the overall circumstances, we believe there's that potential," said FBI Agent Steven Gomez. "He's very well-liked and is a very good person in the community, and that's why we're taking this very seriously and we want to make sure that we are able to find him."

A handgun was unaccounted for inside Ivens' residence, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Ivens has been an FBI agent for three years, assigned to national security issues, ABC News Los Angeles station KABC-TV reported.

The former police officer is believed to have left his home on foot and may be in the Verdugo Mountains, Gomez said at a press conference. Blood hounds tracked the hiking enthusiast's scent in the direction of the range, he said.

Investigators plan to leave no stone unturned and will be spreading out across Los Angeles County to search for the missing agent.

"He's been a valuable member of our office," Gomez said.

Ivens is 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. He has brown eyes, receding brown hair and was last seen wearing prescription glasses. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burbank Police Department.