The search for two missing fishermen identified as 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier is underway after their boat was found without them on board.
Spivey and Billmaier went fishing off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida, on Friday.
Billmaier’s wife wrote in a social media post shared by Semafor White House correspondent Shelby Talcott that her husband and his uncle, Spivey, left early Friday morning and were expected to return in the afternoon.
As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, the two had not returned, and their family had not heard from them.
Billmaier’s wife said at approximately 11 p.m. the US Coast Guard deployed a helicopter.
At 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the family received a call that Spivey and Billmaier’s vessel was found 70 miles off the coast, but the men were not aboard.
Riley Perkofski, a public affairs specialist for the US Coast Guard Southeast District, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the boat was still running when it was located.
“The boat was in gear,” Perkofski said. “We deployed a swimmer, and then the swimmer deployed the vessel’s anchor so that it wouldn’t keep moving.”
The . Saturday, the family received a call that Spivey and Billmaier’s vessel was found 70 miles off the coast early Saturday morning, but the men were not aboard.
The family is hoping that more people will be able to join the rescue effort and is asking for those who are willing and able to reach out.
Spivey and Billmaier’s family asks those who cannot aid in the rescue to keep the men in their prayers.
“We’ve gotta find them. Please. Please, please find them,” Tricia Spivey, Randall’s wife, said, according to WBBH-TV. “They’re amazing people. I mean, I, I don’t know, I just — I just need him back. He needs to come back to us.”
On Saturday, the US Coast Guard said it was leading the search and asked for anyone with information to call US Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392.
By Saturday afternoon, the US Coast Guard said crews were conducting search and rescue operations across a wide area — about 35 miles in all directions — from the ocean’s surface up to roughly 5,000 feet in the air.
Officials also warned aircraft in the area to “maintain situational awareness” and avoid interfering with search and rescue crews.
Randall Spivey is a 6-foot-1 man with brown hair and brown eyes.Lee County Sheriff
Brandon Billmaier is 6-foot-2 and has strawberry hair and brown eyes.Lee County Sheriff
Spivey is a 6-foot-1 man with brown hair and brown eyes, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
He was last seen wearing khaki pants and a dark-colored shirt.
Billmaier is 6-foot-2 and has strawberry hair and brown eyes.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office did not describe what the 33-year-old was last seen wearing.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office directed Fox News Digital to the US Coast Guard for additional updates.
The Tragic Disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier: A Fishing Trip Turned Mystery in the Gulf of Mexico
On December 19, 2025, two experienced Florida attorneys—uncle Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33—set out for what was intended to be a routine deep-sea fishing excursion off the coast of Fort Myers. What unfolded instead has become one of Southwest Florida’s most heartbreaking and perplexing missing persons cases in recent years. The pair vanished without a trace, leaving behind an empty, drifting boat found adrift approximately 70 miles offshore. Despite an exhaustive multi-day search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, local authorities, volunteers, and even the FBI, no sign of the men has been found as of December 26, 2025. The official search was suspended on December 22, shifting the case to an ongoing federal investigation.
This article examines the known facts of the disappearance, drawing exclusively from verified reports by reputable news outlets such as Fox News, People Magazine, USA Today, the News-Press, Gulf Coast News Now, and statements from family and law firms. It details the backgrounds of the missing men, the timeline of events, the massive search effort, family responses, and the unanswered questions that continue to haunt their loved ones and community.
Who Were Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier?
Randall Spivey was a well-established personal injury attorney in Fort Myers, Florida, where he founded and served as president of the Spivey Law Firm. With over 30 years of experience, he was known for dedicating his career to helping injured clients in Southwest Florida. Described by family as an “incredible, devoted, and loved husband and father,” Spivey was an avid boater with extensive experience on the water. Friends and family emphasized his caution and expertise, noting that he was “the safest, most experienced boater that you could imagine.” He resided in the Iona area of Fort Myers with his wife, Tricia, and had adult children, including a son who spoke publicly about the family’s devastation.
Brandon Billmaier, Spivey’s nephew, followed in his uncle’s footsteps by pursuing a career in law. A trial attorney at the Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton since August 2023, Billmaier was admired for his dedication to helping injured clients. Originally from Michigan and a graduate of the University of Toledo, he had recently moved to Florida and was newly married to his wife, Deborah. The couple, who met in 2020, had traveled to over 30 countries together and shared a deep passion for adventure. Billmaier was also an enthusiastic fisherman, with his wife noting that “he loved fishing—he lived for it, he lived for his family, for me.” At 6’2″ and 250 pounds with strawberry-blond hair, he was described as a “light in this world” by those close to him.
The uncle-nephew duo shared not only a professional bond but a personal one, often bonding over fishing trips. Brandon aspired to one day join his uncle’s firm, making their outings a blend of mentorship and family time.
The Fateful Fishing Trip: Timeline of Events
The men departed early on the morning of Friday, December 19, 2025, from Spivey’s waterfront home on Intracoastal Court in Fort Myers. They were aboard Spivey’s 42-foot Freeman catamaran powerboat, named “Unstopp-A-Bull” (sometimes reported as “Unstoppable”), a high-end vessel equipped for offshore fishing. The plan was a day of bottom fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 70-102 miles offshore near areas like Marco Island and Flamingo.
Weather conditions that day were reported as relatively calm, with no indications of severe storms or hazards that would typically endanger experienced boaters. Family members expected them to return later that afternoon or evening.
As hours passed without communication, concern grew. By around 9 p.m. that night, the men were officially reported missing to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard. Deborah Billmaier and Tricia Spivey alerted authorities after failing to hear from their loved ones.
Early the next morning, on Saturday, December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter located the boat adrift about 70 miles west of Naples. The vessel was found upright, engines running, and in operational condition—no signs of damage, capsizing, or distress. Critically, it was empty. Two life jackets and a life ring were missing, leading investigators and family to hope the men had donned flotation devices before entering the water.
No personal belongings, fishing gear anomalies, or evidence of foul play were initially reported on the boat. The discovery of the unmanned vessel intensified the urgency, prompting an immediate large-scale search-and-rescue operation.
The Massive Search Effort
The U.S. Coast Guard led what became one of the largest offshore searches in Southwest Florida history, deploying multiple aircraft, helicopters from stations including Clearwater, and over two dozen surface vessels. Search patterns covered vast grids in the Gulf, guided by drift models, GPS data from the boat’s tracker, and environmental factors.
Community response was overwhelming. Volunteers from across Florida and neighboring states joined with private boats, planes, and resources. Deborah Billmaier posted coordinates and pleas on social media, offering a monetary reward for information leading to their recovery. Friends like Paul Rocuant, Spivey’s best friend since 1995, participated actively, describing Spivey as “like a brother.”
By Monday, December 22, the search had entered its fourth day. Coast Guard officials briefed the family privately, expressing high confidence that if the men were afloat on the surface, they would have been located given the resources deployed.
At sunset on December 22, the Coast Guard made the “difficult decision” to suspend active search operations. In a statement, they extended condolences to the families, noting the exhaustive efforts. The case transitioned to the FBI as a federal missing persons investigation, focusing on potential further leads or recovery.
Family members, while heartbroken, publicly supported the suspension. Deborah Billmaier wrote on social media: “While this is heartbreaking, Brandon and Randy would never want anyone else to put their life in danger, and we know they would want this decision to be respected.”
As of December 26, 2025, no new developments have been reported. The men remain missing, presumed lost at sea.
Family and Community Reactions
The disappearance has devastated the families, occurring just days before Christmas. Deborah Billmaier, in interviews, expressed unwavering hope initially, calling for a “Christmas miracle.” She recounted their last dinner together on December 18, highlighting Brandon’s passion for life and family. Tricia Spivey pleaded publicly for her husband’s return, describing him as an amazing person who needed to come home.
Spivey’s son spoke of the incomprehensibility: “Whatever happened was a one-in-a-million occurrence… I can’t even think of a scenario that makes sense.”
Law firms issued statements of grief. The Shiner Law Group called the situation “surreal,” praising Brandon as an “exceptional person and a great lawyer.” The Spivey/Billmaier family released joint statements thanking the community and emphasizing the men’s characters.
The Southwest Florida legal and boating communities rallied, with tributes pouring in for two men seen as pillars of kindness and professionalism.
Unanswered Questions and Theories
With no bodies recovered, no distress signals, and an intact boat, the case raises profound questions. How did two experienced individuals vanish from a running vessel? Possible scenarios discussed in reports include:
A sudden medical emergency affecting one, leading the other to assist and both ending up overboard.
An accidental fall while fishing or handling gear, compounded by currents.
Rogue waves or undetected hazards, though weather was favorable.
Family and experts stress the unlikelihood of recklessness, given their expertise. No evidence supports foul play, and the FBI’s involvement is standard for offshore missing persons cases.
The missing life jackets offer slim hope they could have survived initially, but survival time in open water without rescue is limited.
Broader Context: Dangers of Offshore Boating
This incident underscores the inherent risks of deep-sea fishing, even for seasoned boaters. The Gulf of Mexico, while beautiful, can be unforgiving with strong currents, sudden weather changes, and vast distances from help. Statistics from the Coast Guard show hundreds of boating incidents annually in Florida waters, many resulting in fatalities.
Safety advocates emphasize always wearing life jackets, filing float plans, carrying EPIRBs (emergency beacons), and maintaining communication—measures the men reportedly followed, yet tragedy struck.
Conclusion: A Community in Mourning
As the holiday season passes without resolution, the families of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier face an unimaginable void. Their story is one of love, ambition, and shared passion cut short by the sea’s mystery. While official searches have paused, private efforts and the FBI probe continue.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-780-TIPS, or the FBI.
This remains a developing story grounded in verified facts. Speculation beyond reported details—such as unconfirmed claims of surveillance footage capturing “final moments”—has no basis in credible sources and appears to stem from misinformation or sensationalism.