On December 19, 2025, Randall “Randy” Spivey, a 57-year-old prominent personal injury attorney from Fort Myers, Florida, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier, also a lawyer based in Boca Raton, set out for what was supposed to be a routine deep-sea fishing adventure. The duo departed early from Spivey’s waterfront home in Iona on a 42-foot Freeman catamaran named “Unstopp-A-Bull,” planning to fish about 100 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. They were expected back by sunset, but as evening fell, concern grew when they failed to return or make contact.

Family members reported them overdue around 9 p.m. that Friday, prompting an immediate response from the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. What unfolded next turned a joyful outing into a nightmare: In the early hours of Saturday, December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter crew located the vessel adrift approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers, near Naples and Marco Island. The boat was upright, still in gear with engines running, but eerily empty—no sign of Spivey or Billmaier aboard.

Notably, two life jackets were missing from the boat, offering a sliver of hope that the men might have been wearing them if they ended up in the water. Authorities believe a possible man-overboard incident occurred, where one fell in and the other jumped to assist, only for the unmanned boat to drift away uncontrollably. Weather conditions during the disappearance included moderate 10 mph winds and 3-foot seas, not extreme but enough to complicate survival in open water.

The search effort was massive and multi-agency, covering over 6,700 square miles—an area roughly the size of Connecticut. Coast Guard assets from stations in Clearwater, Miami, and beyond deployed helicopters, cutters, and boats. Volunteers from across Florida and neighboring states joined in, with private boats and aircraft scouring designated grids. Family members, including Spivey’s wife Tricia and Billmaier’s wife Deborah, publicly pleaded for help, sharing coordinates and expressing devastation. Deborah described the ordeal as “a nightmare, like a horror movie,” while emphasizing the men’s close bond—Billmaier had followed his uncle into law, aspiring to join his firm someday.

Both men were experienced boaters; Spivey had fished for over 30 years and was known for prioritizing safety. Billmaier, newly married and described as a “light in this world,” left behind a heartbroken family offering rewards for information. Community support poured in, with friends highlighting their kindness and professional dedication.

Despite the exhaustive efforts lasting through Monday, December 22, no trace of the men was found. At sunset that day, the Coast Guard suspended active search operations, citing the extensive coverage and lack of new leads. The case has since transitioned to the FBI for further investigation as a federal missing persons matter, though no foul play is suspected.

As Christmas approached on December 24, families clung to fading hope, preparing for the holidays without their loved ones. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the Gulf’s unpredictable dangers, even for seasoned mariners. While survival stories at sea do occur, the vast ocean and time elapsed have left many fearing the worst for these two devoted family men.