In a baffling development that has deepened the mystery surrounding the disappearance of two prominent Florida attorneys, investigators searching for Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, have recovered a torn and ragged shirt that washed up on a Gulf Coast beach. The garment, discovered during intensified shoreline sweeps following the duo’s vanishing act on December 19, 2025, was initially believed to belong to one of the missing men. However, forensic analysis delivered a stunning revelation: the shirt is linked to an entirely separate unsolved missing persons case dating back two years.

Spivey, a well-known personal injury lawyer based in Fort Myers and founder of Spivey Law Firm, and Billmaier, a 33-year-old trial attorney with the Boca Raton-based Shiner Law Group, set out on what was supposed to be a routine deep-sea fishing trip aboard their 42-foot Freeman boat, named “Unstopp-A-Bull.” The pair departed early that morning from a residence in Fort Myers and were expected home by sunset. When they failed to return, frantic family members alerted authorities around 9 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard located the vessel approximately 70 miles offshore near Marco Island, eerily floating upright with its engine still running — yet neither man was aboard. No signs of struggle were immediately apparent, and the boat appeared otherwise intact. A massive multi-agency search ensued, involving the Coast Guard, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, volunteers from across the region, and even FBI involvement due to the unusual circumstances and the men’s professional backgrounds in law.

As hopes faded and the official search was suspended after several days, attention shifted to debris recovery along the shores. The tattered shirt, heavily damaged and waterlogged, drifted onto a beach during these efforts. Preliminary examination suggested it could have been worn by one of the missing fishermen, heightening fears of a tragic accident at sea — perhaps a man overboard scenario where one fell in and the other attempted a rescue, only for the boat to continue moving away uncontrollably.

But lab results shattered that assumption. DNA and fabric analysis conclusively matched the shirt to evidence from a cold-case disappearance two years prior — a separate incident involving another individual lost under mysterious circumstances in Florida waters. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the identity of the earlier missing person or the exact nature of the prior case, citing the ongoing investigation. This unexpected connection has ignited speculation: Could there be a larger pattern of maritime vanishings? Is foul play involved across cases? Or is it a bizarre coincidence tied to ocean currents carrying debris over long distances?

Family members remain heartbroken. Spivey’s wife and Billmaier’s loved ones have publicly expressed devastation while praising community support during the search. The attorneys were remembered as dedicated professionals and devoted family men — Spivey a respected figure in personal injury law, Billmaier a rising star in trial advocacy.

Investigators continue to probe every angle, including potential mechanical issues with the boat, sudden weather changes, or other factors. The eerie link to the older case has injected fresh urgency, prompting calls for renewed scrutiny of similar past incidents in the Gulf. For now, the families cling to hope amid grief, as this twisted forensic surprise leaves more questions than answers in one of Florida’s most perplexing recent mysteries.