Vanished Without a Trace: The Haunting Disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier on Christmas Day 2025
As families across America unwrap gifts and share meals this Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, two Florida households are shrouded in profound sorrow and unanswered questions. Six days ago, on December 19, seasoned Fort Myers attorney Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his beloved nephew, Boca Raton lawyer Brandon Billmaier, 33, embarked on what should have been a joyful deep-sea fishing adventure in the Gulf of Mexico. Instead, it has become one of the most baffling maritime mysteries in recent Florida history—an empty boat found drifting, no distress signals, and two experienced boaters gone, as if swallowed by the sea.
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Randall Spivey (often left in photos) and Brandon Billmaier, uncle and nephew, both dedicated lawyers and passionate fishermen.
The story begins in the quiet waterfront community of Iona, near Fort Myers, where Spivey lived with his wife, Tricia. Early that Friday morning, the pair launched from Spivey’s private dock aboard his prized 42-foot Freeman catamaran, Unstopp-A-Bull (sometimes reported as “Unstoppable”). Known for its stability and speed, the high-end vessel was equipped with top-tier navigation, safety gear, and an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). They planned to head 70-100 miles offshore for bottom fishing—a favorite pastime that strengthened their close bond, with Billmaier often referring to his uncle as a mentor and “second father.”
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The Freeman 42 catamaran, similar to the recovered Unstopp-A-Bull, renowned for offshore reliability.
Randall Spivey was no novice; with over 30 years of boating experience, he founded the Spivey Law Firm, specializing in personal injury cases and earning a reputation as a compassionate advocate. Brandon, who joined Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton in 2023 after graduating from the University of Toledo, was building his own career in trial law. Married to Deborah just 15 months earlier, he was described as a “light in this world” by loved ones. The trip was routine—texts were exchanged that morning, including loving messages to spouses—but by afternoon, silence fell.
When the men failed to return by evening, Tricia Spivey reported them missing around 9 p.m. No mayday calls, no alerts from the EPIRB. Early Saturday, December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Clearwater located the Unstopp-A-Bull adrift approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers. The chilling details: engines running, still in gear, boat upright and intact. A rescue swimmer boarded to shut it down and anchor it. No trace of Spivey or Billmaier.
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The empty boat discovered drifting, as reported in coverage of the incident.
Two life jackets and a life ring were missing, offering faint hope they had time to grab flotation. Conditions were benign: light winds, modest seas. The EPIRB remained unused onboard. This sparked a massive response—one of the largest in Southwest Florida memory—covering over 6,700 square miles with Coast Guard aircraft, cutters, local agencies, and hundreds of volunteers, including private pilots and boaters.
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Coast Guard helicopters and vessels during intensive search operations in the Gulf.
Wives Tricia and Deborah made heartfelt appeals. “We’ve gotta find them. Please, please find them,” Tricia pleaded to media. Deborah posted updates, noting the men were bottom fishing when something likely went wrong. Community rallied fiercely, coordinated by family friend Paul Rocuant, a longtime pal of Spivey.
After three exhaustive days, on December 22, the Coast Guard suspended active searching at sunset—a decision Capt. Corrie Sergent called “incredibly difficult.” The family supported it, stating in a release: “Randy and Brandon would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.” They expressed gratitude for the “utmost professionalism” while acknowledging the vast, shifting search area posed increasing risks.
As of Christmas 2025, no new clues have surfaced. The men remain missing, with the case now a formal FBI missing persons investigation. The boat was towed to Fort Myers Beach for forensic examination—engine data, navigation logs, and potential evidence scrutinized for insights into the sudden event.
Speculation centers on a rapid catastrophe: perhaps a heavy fish or snag yanked one overboard during bottom fishing, the other jumping in to save him—a frequent “man overboard” chain reaction. A medical issue, rogue wave, or unseen failure could explain no time for alerts. Foul play seems unlikely; both led fulfilled lives with no known issues.
The missing life jackets sustain slim hope, though survival odds dwindle in open water. Experts stress the need for personal locator beacons (PLBs) worn on the body, which activate on immersion—unlike vessel EPIRBs.
This tragedy resonates deeply in Florida’s legal and boating communities. Shiner Law Group mourned Brandon as an “exceptional person and great lawyer.” Spivey’s firm highlighted his decades helping injury victims. On this holiday, Deborah spoke of clinging to a “Christmas miracle,” while the families navigate grief amid silence from the Gulf.
The sea’s mysteries endure, but the legacy of these two men—devoted family members, skilled professionals, and avid anglers—lives on. Authorities encourage tips to the FBI or Coast Guard.
For video coverage, including emotional family interviews and search footage, refer to reports from WINK News, FOX 4, NBC affiliates, and national outlets like Fox News and People magazine.
