Two attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them

Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier disappeared off Fort Myers coast, boat found running 70 miles offshore

Two attorneys have vanished off the coast of Florida during a routine fishing trip, prompting one wife to share that she is “heartbroken” following her husband and his uncle’s disappearance in Fort Myers, Florida.

Randall Spivey, 57, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier left before dawn on Friday, Dec. 19, heading out from Fort Myers aboard a 42-foot Freeman fishing boat. Family members say the men were familiar with the waters and planned to be back the same day.

When evening came and there was no word from either man, concern quickly escalated, prompting Billmaier’s wife, Deborah, to contact the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). By late Friday night, the USCG launched an emergency response, sending aircraft to search the Gulf.

“I am heartbroken posting this. My husband, Brandon, went out fishing yesterday with his uncle off the coast of Fort Myers,” Deborah wrote in an Instagram post. “They left early in the morning on Friday, Dec. 19 and were meant to come back that afternoon.”

Brandon Billmaier, 33, went missing while fishing off the coast of Florida with his uncle, Randall Spivey. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

In the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 20, the boat was found drifting roughly 70 miles off the coast.

“The helicopter has continued searching throughout the night. As the sun rises, we are looking for additional help in the search efforts. If you or someone you know can help, please reach out to us,” she wrote. “If you cannot, please keep them in your prayers as we continue to have faith that we will find them.”

The boat that missing fishermen Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier, 33, were on was found empty. (U.S. Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg)

A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District said that the boat was still running when it was found, but both men were nowhere to be found.

“The boat was in gear,” Riley Perkofski said. “We deployed a swimmer, and then the swimmer deployed the vessel’s anchor so that it wouldn’t keep moving.”

The Coast Guard said that they found that the boat’s transmitter, known as an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, was still on the vessel.

Randall Spivey, 57, is 6-foot-1 and was last seen in khaki pants and a dark-colored shirt. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

The Coast Guard and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) continue coordinated air and sea searches across the Gulf of Mexico. Authorities are asking anyone who may know the whereabouts of Spivey and Billmaier to contact the LCSO at 239-477-1000, or 911. They can also contact SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS to remain anonymous. Spivey was last seen wearing khaki pants and a dark-colored shirt. He has brown hair and brown eyes and is 6’1″, weighing 245 pounds. Billmaier is 6’2″ and weighs 250 pounds. He has strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.

The Vanishing at Sea: The Mysterious Disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier

On a crisp Friday morning in December 2025, two experienced Florida attorneys set out for what was supposed to be a routine deep-sea fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico. Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, a prominent personal injury lawyer from Fort Myers, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier, a trial attorney based in Boca Raton, launched from Spivey’s home in Iona aboard their 42-foot Freeman catamaran named “Unstopp-A-Bull.” They were targeting bottom fish about 70-100 miles offshore, an adventure both men loved and had undertaken many times before.

By evening, when the pair failed to return as expected, alarm bells rang. Family members reported them overdue around 9 p.m. on December 19. What followed was one of the largest search operations in Southwest Florida history—a desperate effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard, local agencies, volunteers, and even private aircraft—that ultimately ended in heartbreak without answers.

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Randall Spivey (left) and Brandon Billmaier (right), the uncle and nephew who vanished at sea.

The men’s stories paint a picture of accomplished professionals deeply connected by family and shared passions. Randall Spivey, founder and president of Spivey Law Firm in Fort Myers, was a seasoned boater with over 30 years of experience on the water. Described by loved ones as safety-conscious, he was a devoted husband to Tricia and father, known in the community for his legal work helping injury victims. His nephew, Brandon Billmaier, had followed in his footsteps into the legal field, joining the Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton in 2023 after earning degrees from the University of Toledo. Brandon, married to Deborah, was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman who idolized his uncle—often calling him a “second father.” The two frequently fished together, bonding over the Gulf’s challenging waters.

The day began like many others. They departed early, equipped with a high-end vessel featuring modern navigation and safety gear, including an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). Family members exchanged routine messages; Spivey’s son, Randall Jr., even texted his father good luck and “I love you,” expecting updates on their catch.

But communication ceased abruptly. No distress calls were received. By nightfall, with no sign of the boat or the men, Tricia Spivey alerted authorities.

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Missing FL boaters’ vessel recovered. What to know about Freeman 42

The “Unstopp-A-Bull,” a 42-foot Freeman catamaran similar to the one recovered empty.

Early Saturday, December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Clearwater spotted the “Unstopp-A-Bull” adrift approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers, near Naples and Marco Island. The boat was upright, engines still running in gear—a chilling detail suggesting whatever happened occurred suddenly. A rescue swimmer boarded, shut off the engines, and anchored the vessel. Critically, there were no signs of Spivey or Billmaier aboard.

Notably, the EPIRB remained onboard and unused, but two life jackets and a life ring were missing—offering a sliver of hope that the men might have donned them before entering the water. Weather conditions were moderate: winds around 10 mph and 3-foot seas, not extreme enough to capsize a stable catamaran like the Freeman 42.

The discovery triggered an immediate, massive response. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg coordinated air and sea assets, including helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, cutters, and response boats. Partner agencies like the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and volunteer boaters joined, saturating a search area that eventually spanned over 6,700 square miles—an expanse roughly the size of Connecticut.

Community support poured in. Private pilots from across the Southeast flew grids, and dozens of civilian vessels ventured far offshore. Family friend and attorney Paul Rocuant organized volunteers, distributing search coordinates via text. Deborah Billmaier posted urgent pleas on social media, sharing updates like the fact that the men were bottom fishing when the “incident” occurred—though details remained unknown.

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U.S. Coast Guard assets during search and rescue operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

As days passed, hope mingled with dread. Tricia Spivey told reporters, “We’ve gotta find them. Please, please find them. They’re amazing people. I just need him back.” Deborah Billmaier echoed the sentiment, finding solace in knowing her husband spent his final hours doing what he loved: fishing with family.

On Monday, December 22, after exhaustive efforts yielded no clues—no debris, no sightings, no signals—the Coast Guard made the agonizing decision to suspend active searching at sunset. Capt. Corrie Sergent stated, “There is no harder decision than suspending a search. We saturated an incredibly large search area but, unfortunately, were unable to locate the two missing men.”

The family, in a statement released through Rocuant, expressed profound gratitude while accepting the suspension: “While this is heartbreaking, the family is certain this is the correct decision… The search area, now more than 100 miles offshore, continues to move west… creating increasing risk.” They urged respect for the decision and thanked the “utmost professionalism” of rescuers and volunteers.

Yet the case is far from closed. The FBI has launched a formal missing persons investigation to probe the circumstances. With the boat recovered intact and towed to Station Fort Myers Beach for examination, investigators are piecing together potential scenarios.

What could have caused two seasoned boaters to vanish so completely?

Experts and family point to a sudden, catastrophic event. Bottom fishing involves anchoring or drifting while lines are in the water—perhaps a large fish or snag pulled one man overboard, prompting the other to attempt a rescue. Rogue waves, though rare in those conditions, or a medical emergency could explain the lack of distress activation. The running engines suggest no time to react or send a mayday.

No evidence of foul play has emerged, and both men were described as happy, stable, and excited for the trip. Theories of intentional disappearance seem unfounded given their strong family ties and professional lives.

The missing life jackets fuel cautious optimism among loved ones. Survival in the Gulf is possible for days with flotation, especially for fit individuals like Spivey (6’1″, 245 lbs) and Billmaier (6’2″, 250 lbs). Currents could carry them far, but hope dims with time.

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Exploring the Best Saltwater Fishing Hotspots on the Gulf of …

A typical deep-sea fishing scene in the Gulf of Mexico, similar to the outing Spivey and Billmaier embarked on.

This tragedy underscores the Gulf’s unforgiving nature, even for experts. Maritime safety advocates renew calls for personal locator beacons (PLBs)—wearable devices that activate automatically—beyond vessel-mounted EPIRBs. The unused beacon aboard “Unstopp-A-Bull” highlights how quickly disaster can strike.

As Christmas 2025 approached, families faced an unimaginable holiday. Deborah Billmaier spoke of holding onto a “Christmas miracle,” while Shiner Law Group mourned: “Brandon is an exceptional person and a great lawyer… we are heartbroken.”

The FBI urges anyone with information—perhaps sightings from other vessels or unusual activity—to come forward. The waters hold their secret for now, but the search for truth continues.

In Southwest Florida, a community grieves two of its own: dedicated lawyers, loving family men, and passionate anglers lost to the sea’s enduring mystery.