Stephen Ivens, a 35-year-old FBI agent assigned to the Los Angeles Field Division, has been missing since he walked away from his Burbank home on the morning of May 11, 2012. Blood hounds tranced his scent to the Verdugo Mountains where a search party of FBI agents, local police, and volunteers looked for him.
Ivens, a married father of a toddler, has been an FBI agent a little more than 3 years. Before joining the bureau Ivens had been a Los Angeles police officer. The white, 6 foot, 160 pound bespectacled agent worked on counterterrorism cases. Because his FBI-issued revolver is also missing, Ivens was presumably armed when he left his house that morning.
According to news reports, Special Agent Ivens had been depressed. This has led to speculation that he was suicidal, and has killed himself. However, the fact he worked on cases related to counterterrorism has led some to believe he has been the victim of foul play.
Special Agent Ivens has been missing one month, and as far as I can tell, since the days following his disappearance, there have been no news stories about his case. I don't know if reporters have been pressing the bureau for information, and have been stonewalled, or if the media has simply lost interest. I do know this: if Stephen Ivens had been even a minor celebrity, particularly someone in the entertainment world, the media would be all over his disappearance. There would be daily press conferences, three-page features in People Magazine, candle-light vigils, and investigative reporting into every corner of the missing celeb's life.
An FBI agent missing for a month is an event worthy of serious investigative reporting and media scrutiny. The possibility of foul play, and even a government cover-up, trumps issues of personal privacy. The public has a right to know who Stephen Ivens is, why he has disappeared, and the status of the search for him.
Questions the media apparently havn't asked the authorities about the case include: Have they stopped looking for Ivens? Where have they looked? And why hasn't he been found? After he left his house that morning on foot, could someone have picked him up and taken him away in a vehicle? On a more personal note, what was the status of his marriage? Has Ivens attempted or threatened suicide before? Did he leave a suicide note? Was the agent taking anti-depressant or anti-psychotic medication? Did he have a drinking problem? Was he being treated by a psychologist or a psychiatrist? And why did he leave the Los Angeles Police Department for the FBI?
The absence of news on this case will create speculation regarding the possibility of foul play and a government cover-up. At a time when White House personnel are suspected of leaking our national security secrets, there is nothing from the government on Stephen Ivens' background and disappearance. In some cases, loose lips sink ships, and in others, tight lips cause suspicion and distrust. Where is Stephen Ivens?
Ivens, a married father of a toddler, has been an FBI agent a little more than 3 years. Before joining the bureau Ivens had been a Los Angeles police officer. The white, 6 foot, 160 pound bespectacled agent worked on counterterrorism cases. Because his FBI-issued revolver is also missing, Ivens was presumably armed when he left his house that morning.
According to news reports, Special Agent Ivens had been depressed. This has led to speculation that he was suicidal, and has killed himself. However, the fact he worked on cases related to counterterrorism has led some to believe he has been the victim of foul play.
Special Agent Ivens has been missing one month, and as far as I can tell, since the days following his disappearance, there have been no news stories about his case. I don't know if reporters have been pressing the bureau for information, and have been stonewalled, or if the media has simply lost interest. I do know this: if Stephen Ivens had been even a minor celebrity, particularly someone in the entertainment world, the media would be all over his disappearance. There would be daily press conferences, three-page features in People Magazine, candle-light vigils, and investigative reporting into every corner of the missing celeb's life.
An FBI agent missing for a month is an event worthy of serious investigative reporting and media scrutiny. The possibility of foul play, and even a government cover-up, trumps issues of personal privacy. The public has a right to know who Stephen Ivens is, why he has disappeared, and the status of the search for him.
Questions the media apparently havn't asked the authorities about the case include: Have they stopped looking for Ivens? Where have they looked? And why hasn't he been found? After he left his house that morning on foot, could someone have picked him up and taken him away in a vehicle? On a more personal note, what was the status of his marriage? Has Ivens attempted or threatened suicide before? Did he leave a suicide note? Was the agent taking anti-depressant or anti-psychotic medication? Did he have a drinking problem? Was he being treated by a psychologist or a psychiatrist? And why did he leave the Los Angeles Police Department for the FBI?
The absence of news on this case will create speculation regarding the possibility of foul play and a government cover-up. At a time when White House personnel are suspected of leaking our national security secrets, there is nothing from the government on Stephen Ivens' background and disappearance. In some cases, loose lips sink ships, and in others, tight lips cause suspicion and distrust. Where is Stephen Ivens?
you're missing the point. when he first 'went missing' over 100 fbi agents plus 40 or more local police set out to find him. the biggest manhunt in burbank's history or close to it. and then....nothing....poof...it all went away. so the interest was there -- big time. that's the story. obviously-- someone knows where he is or what happened to him at this point in time so it is not a matter of let's find steve...but rather...who found steve?
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteThank you for writing about this. I went to high school with Stephen Ivens, so I've seen posts about this on Facebook. Otherwise I'd never have heard anything.
ReplyDeleteHey Pulpbomb,could you please contact thea, his wife on Facebook, and offer her some consoling words,and fond memories of steve?
DeleteAnd by the same token, simply because he is an FBI Agent, the theories of conspiracies and government plots and kidnapping and cover-ups start growing a life of their own. People in every walk of life, famous or not, suffer with depression and family problems. He is a smart man - if he did not want to be found, for whatever reason, then he won't be found. And again - "the absence of news"? If there is no news, what can the media report? He's missing, no new clues, end of story. If no one calls in leads, how long do you search the same areas over and over?
ReplyDeleteIt seems he left his house voluntarily, not kidnapped. Even his wife is select about what she reveals - he had his gun and his car keys and house keys. But not his car, so that is pointless. The gun is probably the biggest clue - but for suicide or protection? People go missing every day, most of them are local stories only - often they are found (dead or alive) and the reason becomes clears. But others are never found, and we may never know why. Speculation is just pointless.
laugh laugh ^ "speculation is just pointless" what else is there at this point? speculation is a word that has a seedy, derogatory vibe -- like gambling -- but is close in meaning to theorizing, contemplating, wondering....which is what mysteries are all about. to dismiss any conversation about possible clues or motives or backstory -- the stuff of critical thinking -- demonstrates a desire to shut that down. which in itself, is suspicious. or just the sign of a dull, complacent mind.
ReplyDeletePeople in all walks of life may suffer from depression, but most of them do not walk away from a national security job, a wife, and a toddler without warning.
ReplyDeleteSpeculation may be "pointless" but people are wondering WTF happened. It is perfectly acceptable to speculate and question. It seems quite unlikely that he could live on the street for a month without being seen by someone. He still has to eat, sleep, drink water, use a bathroom, etc. As for his wife, it has taken her a long time to be forthcoming for whatever reason. I realize it's highly unpopular to say this, but really--unless he left against his will, his behavior is reckless and irresponsible. In this day and age, treatment for depression is quite accessible and no longer stigmatized. Even in the case of choosing suicide, most people would go to a motel room and end it, rather than putting their family through this bizarre mystery.
But perhaps the suicidal "depression" was misinterpreted. Sure looks to me like somebody picked him up.
Ivens walked out on his family. In a sense, he walked out on his country. If I were his wife, I'd be pissed. If I were his employer, he would not be coming back to work for me in a position that involves the safety of American citizens.
you assume he left willingly...you assume he has not been found....you assume a lot....and you are also quite judgmental based on zero facts. i thought this blog might have interesting posts but it is obvious critical thinking is not valued.
ReplyDeleteBUZZ...GAME OVER
So you believe he was taken against his will? Seems like there might have been an eye-witness to that had it happened, especially since Mr. Ivens lived with two people, had a gun and was a former police officer. It also doesn't really match up with the neighbor who saw him staggering and dazed the night in question.
ReplyDeleteAnd are you suggesting he's already been found? Based on what? That strikes me as a tad paranoid and hardly an example of critical or rational thinking.
Frankly, you're the one that's not valuing critical thinking. In a situation like this, all considerations and questions should be on the table, including the ones that make you uncomfortable or veer away from your narrative that this nice young government man would never do anything bad or irresponsible. As for being "judgmental," people get angry when they're abandoned whether you care to admit it or not. If I'm judgmental because I disapprove of child abandonment, then I'm guilty. And "abandonment" should not be a taboo word in this instance. Also, I don't consider this a "game." So why you wrote "game over" is something only you understand. Nothing is over. That's the point.
But of course you won't read this response, since you think this blog is so uninteresting.
nice work
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGoogle EU Times "missing agent warns they're all insane, then read an make whatever you want from this info.
ReplyDelete