In a stunning twist to one of Florida’s most baffling disappearances, family members of missing attorneys Randall “Randy” Spivey and Brandon Billmaier have uncovered a cryptic note that may hold vital clues to their fate. The handwritten scrap of paper, discovered by loved ones during a desperate search through personal belongings, reportedly contains details tied directly to the pair’s ill-fated fishing trip off the Fort Myers coast.

Spivey, 57, a prominent Fort Myers injury lawyer, and his 33-year-old nephew Billmaier, a trial attorney with Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton, vanished on December 19, 2025. The uncle and nephew set out before dawn on a routine bottom-fishing excursion aboard their 42-foot Freeman boat, “Unstopp-A-Bull.” They were expected home that evening, but when no word came, their wives raised the alarm around 9 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched an massive search operation, one of the largest in the region’s history, scouring thousands of square miles in the Gulf of Mexico. On December 20, rescuers located the vessel adrift about 70 miles southwest of Naples. Shockingly, the engine was still running, lines were in the water, and two life jackets were missing from the boat – yet there was no sign of the men.

Initial theories pointed to a tragic accident: perhaps one fell overboard, and the other heroically jumped in to save him, unaware the boat continued drifting. The Coast Guard suspended active searches after several days, citing exhaustive efforts and safety risks as the area expanded. The case then shifted to the FBI, which took the lead in a criminal missing persons investigation, with the Coast Guard assisting.

Now, this newly found note has reignited hope and suspicion. Relatives stumbled upon it while combing through items connected to the duo’s final days. Authorities quickly took possession, revealing that forensic experts identified an unidentified fingerprint – not belonging to Spivey, Billmaier, or immediate family – prominently impressed on the paper. Police describe the print as “strange” and potentially belonging to an unknown individual who handled the note, raising questions about foul play or hidden connections.

The discovery comes amid lingering mysteries: the boat’s unusual path, with abrupt turns suggesting something went wrong mid-trip; questions about extra life jackets on board for just two people; and the eerie detail of the engine left idling in open water. Family statements have expressed heartbreak, with Billmaier’s wife sharing emotional pleas and last messages of love from her husband.

Investigators are analyzing the note’s content for any references to locations, plans, or warnings that could explain the disappearance. The presence of a foreign fingerprint has shifted focus toward possible third-party involvement, though officials caution that it could be innocuous. The FBI continues to urge anyone with information to come forward.

As the case enters its next phase, the note and its mysterious print represent a potential breakthrough in a saga that has gripped southwest Florida. For the families, every clue brings a flicker of hope amid months of uncertainty – but until Spivey and Billmaier are found, the Gulf’s secrets remain locked away.