TRAGIC TRIP 

FBI launches investigation into missing lawyers who disappeared from fishing boat under ‘unusual circumstances’

All rescue efforts to save the men have been called off

THE FBI have taken over the mysterious case of two lawyers who went missing on a fishing trip.

Uncle and nephew, Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, were last seen on Friday after disappearing under ‘unusual’ circumstances.

4
Uncle and nephew, Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, were last seen on Friday
 

4
The men were going on a fishing trip in FloridaCredit: U.S. Coast Guard
 

4
Both men worked as injury attorneysCredit: Instagram/deborah_sb_
 

4
The men’s vessel was foundCredit: Instagram/deborah_sb_
The duo’s boat was found with the engine still running about 70 miles off Southwest Florida’s coast over the weekend.

But they were nowhere to be seen.

Several agencies from Collier County, Lee County, the Florida Guard, and the military all joined in on the search, which was called off on Monday.

Paul Rocuant, a friend of the missing men, said in a statement to rescue volunteers that numerous agencies had combed an area the size of Connecticut with advanced technology.

After the Coast Guard and other volunteer efforts were called off, the FBI said it would take over the investigation.

“The circumstances for why these two men are missing is certainly unusual,” Former FBI agent Richard Kolko told Wink News.

“So the FBI has initiated a missing persons case. They were beyond the territorial limits of the U.S. coast.

“So that gives them the authority to go out and, you know, kind of try and figure out what happened.”

Randy and Brandon’s family were informed on Monday that, given the amount of time, resources, and strategic efforts, if the men were alive, they would’ve been found already.

During the private briefing with the Coast Guard, the family was informed that all search and rescue efforts would be suspended.

Play Video

Instead, the FBI would investigate the case to determine the circumstances of their disappearance.

‘EVERYTHING POSSIBLE HAS BEEN DONE’

“Few people were more concerned about the safety of innocent people than Randy and Brandon,” Rocuant told Wink.

“We know without question that they would reach the same conclusion as the experts, that everything possible has been done.”

Randy worked as an injury attorney for 30 years.

Family statement

Since Friday, when this tragic event occurred, the United States Coast Guard—together with agencies from Collier County, Lee County, the Florida Guard, the military, and many other organizations—have combined forces using the most advanced technology and equipment available. The search effort has covered an area larger than the entire state of Connecticut.

In a private briefing with Coast Guard leadership, the family was informed that, given the enormous amount of time, resources, and strategic effort focused on the most logical search areas, there is the highest degree of confidence that if Randy and Brandon were on the surface of the water, they would have been found. With that understanding, the Coast Guard has advised the family that as of sundown today, the active search must be suspended. While this is heartbreaking, the family is certain this is the correct decision and holds the deepest respect, gratitude, and acceptance for it.

Randy was an attorney helping those who were injured, for over 30 years. Likewise, following in his uncle’s footsteps, Brandon was also an attorney advocating for those who were injured as well. Few people were more concerned about the safety of innocent people than Randy and Brandon. We know—without question—that they would reach the same conclusion as the experts: that everything possible has been done. They would ask that this decision be respected and that the bravery and heroism of those who searched—those in the air and on the water doing the real, dangerous work—be honored.

This is incredibly difficult for the family and for everyone hoping for a different outcome. We respectfully ask that the decision to suspend the search be honored, both from a professional agency standpoint and from a volunteer standpoint. The search area, which is now more than 100 miles offshore, continues to move west and farther from shore, creating increasing risk, and it is no longer safe to ask volunteers to put themselves in serious danger. For those who know Randy and Brandon, there is no doubt this is exactly how they would feel.

The family asks for your compassion, understanding, and support during this unimaginably difficult time. We love you all.

[Source: Wink]

Brandon followed his uncle’s lead and began working as an attorney who advocates for injured people.

“This is incredibly difficult for the family and for everyone hoping for a different outcome,” Rocaunt’s statement continued.

“We respectfully ask that the decision to suspend the search be honored, both from a professional agency standpoint and from a volunteer standpoint.

“The search area, which is now more than 100 miles offshore, continues to move west and farther from shore, creating increasing risk, and it is no longer safe to ask volunteers to put themselves in serious danger. For those who know Randy and Brandon, there is no doubt this is exactly how they would feel.”

SUDDEN PANIC

The panic began at 7:30 pm on Friday after both men failed to communicate with their wives.

A few hours later, at 11 pm, the US Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to search for the men.

At 1:30 am on Saturday, the vessel was found, but the two men were nowhere to be seen.

The search broadened and continued throughout the weekend.

“Today, we continue to search with air & surface crews, pursuing all leads and saturating the search area,” Captain Corrie Sergent said on Sunday.

“Thank you to this amazing community for their support. Our thoughts are with the families as we continue our efforts.”

The Vanishing in the Gulf: The Unsolved Disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier

On December 19, 2025, two experienced Florida attorneys—57-year-old Randall “Randy” Spivey and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier—set out for what was meant to be a routine deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of Fort Myers. They departed early from a private dock in Iona aboard Spivey’s 42-foot Freeman catamaran, named “Unstopp-A-Bull” (sometimes referred to as “Unstoppable”). The pair, both passionate about fishing and familiar with the Gulf of Mexico’s waters, planned to return by evening. But they never did.

news-press.com

nbcmiami.com

law.com

Randall Spivey was a well-respected personal injury attorney in Southwest Florida, with over 30 years of experience advocating for the injured. His nephew, Brandon Billmaier, had followed in his footsteps, working as a trial attorney at the Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton since 2023 and aspiring to one day join his uncle’s firm. Family described them as safety-conscious individuals—Spivey, an avid boater with decades of experience, and Billmaier, a newlywed whose wife Deborah shared loving texts from him that morning. “He loved fishing; he lived for it,” Deborah later said in an interview.

The alarm was raised that Friday evening when the men failed to return. By late night, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search, deploying helicopters and boats. Early Saturday, around 1:30 a.m., searchers located the vessel approximately 70 miles offshore, near Marco Island in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat was found upright, engines running, and drifting—but completely empty. No signs of distress, damage, or struggle were reported. Notably, two life jackets were missing, offering a glimmer of hope that the men might have donned them and entered the water intentionally or accidentally.

naplesnews.com

news-press.com

The discovery intensified the mystery. What could have caused two seasoned boaters to abandon a perfectly functional vessel in open water? Families and authorities mobilized quickly. Deborah Billmaier and Tricia Spivey, Randall’s wife, took to social media, pleading for volunteer boaters to join the effort and offering rewards. The Southwest Florida community responded overwhelmingly, with dozens of private vessels scouring assigned search grids alongside Coast Guard assets. Over the next days, the operation covered more than 6,700 square miles—an area roughly the size of Connecticut—amid moderate seas and winds.

cbs12.com

cbs12.com

Despite the exhaustive search, no trace of Spivey or Billmaier was found. On December 22, at sunset, the Coast Guard made the “difficult decision” to suspend active operations. In a statement, Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Sergent expressed gratitude to partners and volunteers while offering condolences to the families. The family, in a heartbreaking update, acknowledged the suspension: “While this is heartbreaking, Brandon and Randy would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.”

The case then shifted to the FBI, which took over as a federal missing persons investigation. Authorities have not disclosed any evidence of foul play, and the empty boat with running engines suggests a sudden event—perhaps one or both men fell overboard while fishing.

This brings us to the lingering speculation that has captured public imagination: the possibility of a shark encounter. The Gulf of Mexico is home to various shark species, including bull sharks and tiger sharks, known for venturing into deeper waters where bottom-fishing occurs. Shark attacks in the Gulf are rare but not unheard of, with unprovoked incidents occasionally reported.

newscientist.com

alabamanewscenter.com

However, official reports from the Coast Guard and family statements make no mention of shark involvement. No blood, gear damage, or other indicators were noted on the boat. Witnesses? None have come forward publicly claiming to see the men struggling in the water or any unusual activity. The phrase “We believe a shark was involved” appears in unrelated news stories about other incidents, such as a separate suspected shark attack in California around the same time. Similarly, accounts of a passing fisherman spotting “two figures struggling with a shark” do not align with any verified details in this case.

Families have speculated privately about those critical first minutes after whatever “incident” occurred—perhaps a fall overboard during bottom-fishing, followed by currents carrying them away. The missing life jackets suggest they may have had time to prepare, but survival in open ocean, even with flotation, is challenging without quick rescue.

As Christmas 2025 approached, the families faced the holiday without answers. Deborah Billmaier spoke of holding onto hope for a “Christmas miracle,” finding solace in knowing Brandon spent his final hours doing what he loved. Friends like Paul Rocuant, Spivey’s best friend since 1995, vowed to keep searching informally.

The disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier remains an unsolved mystery beneath the waves of the Gulf. No bodies have been recovered, no definitive cause determined. It serves as a stark reminder of the ocean’s unpredictability, even for the most prepared. While theories abound—including mechanical issues, medical emergencies, or rare wildlife encounters—the truth may forever lie hidden in the deep. The community continues to mourn two men dedicated to helping others, now lost to the sea that they cherished.