The FBI has assumed the missing persons case of two boaters who disappeared 70 miles off the coast of Fort Myers, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

The announcement came as the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search efforts for Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, who left early Friday morning from a residence on the 15000 block of Intracoastal Court in Fort Myers for a fishing trip.

“As the U.S. Coast Guard announces the suspension of search efforts, our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier during this incredibly difficult time,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said. “Our partners at the FBI have assumed the missing persons case at this time.”

The men were traveling in a 42-foot Freeman boat and did not return as expected. Coast Guard crews conducted air and sea searches through Monday, covering more than 4,500 square nautical miles with help from the Air Force, Florida State Guard, the Collier and Lee County sheriff’s offices and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Volunteers also joined the search.

The men’s boat was discovered around midnight Friday, about 70 miles offshore with the engines still engaged and the boat moving at about 4.5 knots. A Coast Guard swimmer was lowered to the boat to shut down the engines and deploy an anchor, and the vessel was later brought back to the Coast Guard station in Fort Myers Beach for further investigation.

Fishing poles were in holders on the boat, but no fishing lines were in the water when it was found, authorities said.

The Coast Guard suspended its active search around 7:40 p.m. Monday after covering more than 4,500 square nautical miles over 81 hours.

“We have searched a huge, massive area with so many resources that if these two gentlemen were alive on the surface of the water, we are confident we would have found them by now,” said Capt. Corrie Sergent, sector commander at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.

The Coast Guard met with the families Monday evening to explain the decision to suspend the search. Sergent said the families understood the decision and were grateful for the efforts.

In a statement, an FBI spokesperson said, “It is standard practice for the FBI to assist our law enforcement partners if we have a tool, tactic, or technique that could benefit their investigations. We assisted the US Coast Guard and Lee County Sheriff’s Office in the search for the missing boaters and will be ready to lend our assistance if information develops to suggest a violation of federal law.”The U.S. Coast Guard said it is suspending its active search for two missing boaters off Fort Myers at sunset Monday after covering more than 4,500 square nautical miles over 81 hours.

Capt. Corrie Sergent, sector commander at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, told ABC7 the search for 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier ended at sunset Monday.

Captain Corey Sergeant, Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, said the search for Mr. Spivey and Mr. Bill Lauren ended at 7:40 p.m. Monday.(WWSB)

“We have searched a huge, massive area with so many resources that if these two gentlemen were alive on the surface of the water, we are confident we would have found them by now,” Sergent said.

The search involved Coast Guard assets by air and sea, along with support from the Air Force, Florida State Guard, Collier County and Lee County Sheriff’s offices, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Volunteers also participated in the search.

Sergent said it was 81 hours since officials believe the men entered the water Friday afternoon.

The Coast Guard found the men’s boat around midnight Friday night, approximately 70 miles offshore. The vessel was still moving at about 4.5 knots with engines engaged when discovered.

A Coast Guard swimmer lowered to the boat disengaged the engines and deployed an anchor for safety. The boat had taken a right turn at some point Friday afternoon, according to tracking data.

Fishing poles were in holders on the boat, but no fishing lines were in the water when the vessel was found.

The boat was brought back to the Coast Guard station in Fort Myers Beach for further investigation.

Sergent said officials do not know what caused the men to enter the water and cannot speculate on the circumstances.

Search conditions were described as optimal for most of the operation. Friday through Sunday featured 2-3 foot seas and 10-15 knot winds with sunshine and warm air temperatures.

Monday brought rougher conditions that made searching more difficult, but crews continued operations until sunset.

The Coast Guard met with the families Monday evening to explain the decision to suspend the search. Sergent said the families understand the decision and are grateful for the search efforts.

The search can be reopened if new information becomes available.

Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, left early Friday morning from a residence on the 15000 block of Intracoastal Court in Fort Myers for a fishing trip, authorities said. The men were traveling in a 42-foot Freeman boat and did not return as expected.

Coast Guard crews in St. Petersburg conducted air and sea searches through Sunday night.

A Silent Christmas in Southwest Florida: The Unsolved Disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier

As Americans celebrate Christmas Day on December 25, 2025, two families in Florida are enduring a holiday marked by profound grief and lingering questions. Six days ago, on December 19, Randall “Randy” Spivey, a 57-year-old prominent personal injury attorney from Fort Myers, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier, a trial lawyer from Boca Raton, vanished during a deep-sea fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite one of the largest search operations in recent regional history, no trace of the men has been found, leaving their loved ones to face an uncertain future.

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Randall Spivey (left) and Brandon Billmaier (right), the uncle and nephew whose disappearance has devastated their families and community.

The outing began like many before it. The pair departed early Friday morning from Spivey’s waterfront home in the peaceful Iona community near Fort Myers, aboard his 42-foot Freeman catamaran, Unstopp-A-Bull (also reported as “Unstoppable” in some accounts). This sleek, high-performance vessel was ideal for offshore adventures, equipped with modern navigation and safety systems, including an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). They headed approximately 70-100 miles offshore for bottom fishing, pursuing grouper and snapper in the deeper waters of the Gulf—a shared passion that strengthened their close bond. Billmaier often described his uncle as a mentor and “second father.”

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A 42-foot Freeman catamaran similar to the Unstopp-A-Bull, known for its stability and suitability for deep-sea excursions.

Randall Spivey founded Spivey Law Firm, dedicating over 30 years to helping injury victims in Southwest Florida. He was portrayed by family and colleagues as safety-conscious, devoted, and community-oriented. Brandon Billmaier, who joined Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton in 2023, was building his career in trial law while recently marrying his wife, Deborah. Morning texts were upbeat, filled with excitement and affection, but communication abruptly stopped as the day progressed.

By evening, with no sign of return, Tricia Spivey reported the men missing around 9 p.m. No distress calls were issued. The breakthrough came early Saturday, December 20, when a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter located the Unstopp-A-Bull adrift about 70 miles west of Fort Myers. The boat was upright, engines running and in gear—indicating a sudden event with no time to respond. A rescue swimmer boarded, shut down the engines, and anchored it, confirming the absence of both men.

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U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and vessels in action during search and rescue operations in the Gulf of Mexico, similar to the efforts deployed for Spivey and Billmaier.

Two life jackets and a life ring were missing, providing a glimmer of hope that the men had grabbed flotation devices. The EPIRB remained onboard and unactivated. Weather conditions were mild—winds around 10 mph and seas of 3 feet—ruling out extreme conditions as a likely cause for capsizing a stable catamaran.

This discovery prompted an unprecedented response. The Coast Guard coordinated air and sea assets, covering more than 6,700 square miles. Volunteers, including private pilots and boaters from across the region, joined enthusiastically, organized in part by family friend Paul Rocuant. Wives Tricia and Deborah made public pleas for help and information.

After exhaustive efforts over three days yielded no clues, the Coast Guard suspended active searching at sunset on December 22—a decision described as “incredibly difficult” by officials. The family supported it, noting in statements that Spivey and Billmaier “would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.” Deborah Billmaier, in interviews as Christmas approached, spoke of hoping for a “miracle” while finding comfort in knowing her husband was doing what he loved: fishing with family.

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Deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, the activity that brought Spivey and Billmaier together on their final outing.

As of December 25, 2025, the men remain missing. The case has shifted to a formal FBI missing persons investigation, with the boat towed for detailed analysis of navigation and engine data. No evidence of foul play has emerged, and experts speculate on a rapid incident—such as one man being pulled overboard by a large fish or snag during bottom fishing, with the other attempting rescue. A medical emergency or rogue wave are also considered possible explanations for the lack of alerts.

The missing life jackets keep faint hope alive, though survival in open water diminishes over time. This case has prompted renewed discussions on boating safety, particularly the benefits of personal locator beacons worn on the body.

The disappearances have deeply affected Florida’s legal community. Shiner Law Group mourned Billmaier as an “exceptional person and great lawyer,” while Spivey’s firm remembered his commitment to clients. On this holiday, families grieve privately, supported by a community that rallied immensely.

The Gulf of Mexico holds its secrets tightly. Authorities urge anyone with potential information—such as sightings from other vessels—to contact the FBI or local law enforcement.

For video coverage, including emotional interviews with Deborah Billmaier discussing her hope for a Christmas miracle, search operations, and family statements, refer to reports from WINK News, FOX 4, Gulf Coast News, Fox News, and People magazine.