Search for missing SWFL boaters now an FBI investigation. What to know
Two men, Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier, went missing during a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search after covering approximately 6,700 square miles over three days.
The men’s boat was found empty with the engine still running, about 70 miles off the coast of Naples.
The FBI has now taken over the investigation, classifying it as a missing persons case.
The search for the two men who disappeared from a boat in the middle of the Gulf has now become a FBI missing persons investigation.
After four days missing and three full days of searching, Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, were not found by the numerous volunteers who assisted the U.S. Coast Guard’s search mission by both sea and air.
The search radius covered approximately 6,700 square miles, which is about the size of the state of Connecticut.
Volunteers from all over the Southwest United States joined the search mission, starting on Saturday (Dec. 20) and continuing through Monday, Dec. 22.
The United Cajun Navy, a volunteer-led nonprofit that specializes in life-saving rescue operations, also deployed an aircraft 100 miles west of Naples on Monday around 11 a.m.
The Coast Guard ultimately decided to suspend its active search efforts after carefully considering all the factors making this case, said Capt. Corrie Sergent, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg in a press release by the USCG.
“There is no harder decision than suspending a search. I am incredibly grateful for the crews, partners, and volunteers across this community who executed this massive search with the utmost professionalism, persistence, and compassion. We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Spivey and Mr. Billmaier during this extremely difficult time,” Sergent said.
The FBI has now taken the case, classified as a missing person case, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Missing boaters in Gulf: timeline
Spivey and Billmaier embarked on a fishing trip early morning on Friday, Dec. 19. They were supposed to come back that same evening but by 7:30, neither of their wives had heard back from them.
This prompted a call to the Coast Guard, and at 11 p.m., a helicopter had been deployed in search of the men.
Just over two hours later, the families were notified that Spivey and Billmaier’s boat was found −a 42-foot Freeman boat named “Unstopp-A-Bull” −about 70 miles off the coast of Naples. The engine was still running.
However, the men were nowhere to be found.
There were two life jackets missing from the boat, which made family members think Spivey and Billmaier could be wearing them.
The search efforts continued into the weekend as volunteers across Florida and surrounding states provided support.
By Monday night, Dec. 22, the Coast Guard was compelled to halt its search.
“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,” Deborah Billmaier, wife of Brandon Billmaier, wrote in a Facebook post on Monday night.
Who were they?
Spivey was a prominent Fort Myers personal injury attorney. He is the founder of Spivey Law Firm, where his wife Tricia Spivey is also a personal injury lawyer.
“He’s an amazing, amazing man and he’s dedicated his life to helping other people as an attorney and helping them in their time of need. And that’s why it’s so touching that many people are now stepping up to find him,” Tricia Spivey told The News-Press on Saturday, Dec. 20.
She said that Spivey and his nephew loved to fish, and her husband had been fishing for over 30 years.
One poster on Facebook, Andrew Abel, recalled Randy”
“I will truly never forget how he was there for me whenever I needed and without asking. Randy would drop everything he was doing to help. Always. Randy championed his family and friends and I’m forever grateful that he championed me and has allowed me to be a part of his family too,” Abel wrote on Monday night.
Another poster, Cristina M. Puccio, wrote “Randy has been a beacon of kindness and warmth in my life for many years, and I feel truly fortunate to have known him.”
Like his uncle, Billmaier was also a personal injury lawyer in Boca Raton with the Shiner Law Group.
A statement by Shiner Law Group says: “On behalf of everyone at Shiner Law Group, we are deeply saddened by the disappearance of Brandon and his uncle, Randy. Brandon is a valued member of our firm and someone we care about tremendously, both as a colleague and as our friend. Brandon is an exceptional person and a great lawyer, and we are heartbroken.”
Billmaier grew up in Michigan and is a graduate of the University of Toledo. Beyond fishing, he likes to play pickleball and travel.
Billmaier also got married last year. Traveling is something that the couple did a lot of together. On social media, Deborah Billmaier shared that they’ve travelled to more than 30 countries.
“Brandon is my best friend, my husband and my greatest love. Every day he showed me what true, unconditional love looks like. We had so many dreams and plans, and I am forever grateful for the five most beautiful years we shared together,” Deborah Billmaier wrote on her social media accounts.
One commenter, Megan Schlett, said: “Brandon was supposed to be the Best Man in our wedding, and he will forever hold that title. There is no one more worthy of that for Sebastian. Brandon was a like a brother to Sebastian and we all love Brandon deeply.”
Another commenter, Donna Antonelli, wrote: “Brandon was humble, genuine, sweet, always had a positive attitude and would always help a fellow attorney. He was a true gentlemen which is so very rare these days. He will be missed by me tremendously.”
The Lingering Mystery in the Gulf: What Happened to Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier?
As Americans gather with family this Christmas Day 2025, two Florida families are enduring unimaginable grief. Six days ago, on December 19, prominent Fort Myers personal injury attorney Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his nephew, Boca Raton trial lawyer Brandon Billmaier, 33, set out for a deep-sea fishing trip aboard Spivey’s 42-foot Freeman catamaran, Unstopp-A-Bull. What began as an exciting outing between an uncle and his “second father” figure ended in tragedy, with the men vanishing at sea and leaving behind an empty, drifting boat.
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Randall Spivey (left in some images) and Brandon Billmaier, uncle and nephew, both accomplished attorneys who shared a passion for fishing.
The pair launched early that Friday morning from Spivey’s waterfront home in Iona, a quiet neighborhood near Fort Myers. Experienced boaters—Spivey with decades on the water and Billmaier an avid outdoorsman—they headed 70-100 miles offshore into the Gulf of Mexico for bottom fishing, targeting grouper and snapper in deeper waters.
Family members stayed in touch initially. Brandon texted his wife, Deborah, that morning, expressing love and excitement. But as the day progressed, communication stopped. By evening, with no return and no updates, worry turned to panic. Tricia Spivey, Randall’s wife, reported them missing around 9 p.m.
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A typical boat dock launch in Fort Myers, similar to where Spivey and Billmaier departed on their fateful trip.
Early Saturday, December 20, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter spotted the Unstopp-A-Bull adrift about 70 miles west of Fort Myers. The vessel was upright, engines running and still in gear—a haunting sign that whatever occurred happened abruptly, with no time to shut down or throttle back. A rescue swimmer boarded, secured the boat, and confirmed the worst: no one was aboard.
Two life jackets and a life ring were missing, sparking initial hope that the men had grabbed flotation devices. However, the boat’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) remained onboard and unactivated. Weather was mild—winds 10-15 mph, seas 2-4 feet—far from conditions that could easily overwhelm a stable catamaran like the Freeman 42.
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Missing FL boaters’ vessel recovered. What to know about Freeman 42
The type of high-end Freeman catamaran, like the recovered Unstopp-A-Bull, known for stability in offshore waters.
This discovery launched one of the most extensive searches in recent Southwest Florida history. The Coast Guard deployed helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, cutters, and boats, covering over 6,700 square miles. Volunteers—private pilots, civilian boaters, and even firefighters—joined, scouring grids far offshore. Community members organized via social media and texts, with family friend Paul Rocuant coordinating efforts.
Deborah Billmaier and Tricia Spivey made emotional public pleas. “Please, please find them,” Tricia told reporters. Deborah shared that the men were bottom fishing when the “incident” likely occurred, holding onto hope for a miracle.
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U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations in the Gulf, involving helicopters and vessels similar to those used in this case.
After three full days of exhaustive searching, the Coast Guard suspended active operations at sunset on Monday, December 22. Captain Corrie Sergent called it the “hardest decision,” noting the massive area saturated without sightings. The family, in a statement, supported the suspension: “Randy and Brandon would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.”
As of Christmas Day 2025, no new developments have emerged. The men remain missing, presumed lost at sea. The FBI has taken over as a formal missing persons investigation, examining the recovered boat for clues—navigation data, engine logs, and any signs of what transpired.
Investigators and experts speculate on a sudden catastrophe. Bottom fishing often involves heavy lines and anchors; a large fish or snag could pull one man overboard, with the other attempting rescue—common in “man overboard” scenarios. A medical emergency, rogue wave, or equipment failure might explain the lack of distress call. No evidence suggests foul play; both men were described as happy, stable professionals with strong family bonds.
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Deep-sea bottom fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, the activity Spivey and Billmaier were engaged in when they vanished.
The case highlights the Gulf’s dangers, even for seasoned boaters. Safety advocates point to the unused EPIRB as a reminder: personal locator beacons (PLBs) worn on the body could activate automatically upon immersion, potentially saving lives in split-second incidents.
Randall Spivey founded Spivey Law Firm, advocating for injury victims over 30 years. Brandon, who viewed his uncle as a mentor, joined Shiner Law Group in 2023. Their disappearances have rippled through Florida’s legal community and beyond.
On this holiday, thoughts are with Tricia, Deborah, and their families. While active search has ended, private efforts and currents may yet bring answers. The sea keeps its secrets, but the mystery of what silenced two vibrant lives in an instant endures.
For ongoing coverage, local outlets like WINK News, FOX 4, and The News-Press have featured family interviews and search footage. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the FBI or Coast Guard.
