In a haunting development that has sent shockwaves through Southwest Florida, authorities have recovered personal identification documents belonging to Randall “Randy” Spivey, the prominent 57-year-old Fort Myers personal injury attorney who vanished alongside his 33-year-old nephew, Brandon Billmaier, during a routine fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico on December 19, 2025.

The pair set out from a Fort Myers-area marina aboard Spivey’s 42-foot boat for what was meant to be a relaxing day on the water. Hours later, the vessel was discovered drifting empty and upright in the Gulf, with no immediate signs of the men aboard. An extensive multi-agency search involving the U.S. Coast Guard, local authorities, and private vessels ensued, but after several days of intense efforts covering vast areas of open water, the official active search was suspended around December 23, 2025. The FBI stepped in to assist and lead aspects of the investigation, treating the disappearance as suspicious given the “unusual circumstances.”

Key details emerging from the initial boat inspection raised red flags: the vessel appeared intact with no evidence of a major accident like capsizing or collision. However, one critical life jacket was notably absent, fueling speculation about what might have transpired. The men were described by family as experienced and safety-conscious boaters—Spivey, an avid fisherman with decades on the water, and Billmaier, his nephew who worked at a Boca Raton law firm—making an accidental fall overboard seem unlikely to those who knew them.

Now, the recovery of Spivey’s personal identification papers has intensified the family’s anguish and fear. These documents, typically kept secure on a person or in a safe place aboard the boat, were located separately from the vessel itself in circumstances that have not been fully detailed publicly. The find has shifted the narrative from a possible tragic boating mishap to something potentially more sinister, prompting renewed concern that foul play could be involved. Family members, already grappling with weeks of uncertainty and grief, have expressed growing dread that the new evidence suggests deliberate harm rather than a simple accident at sea.

Spivey built a respected career helping injury victims for over 30 years, earning a reputation as a dedicated advocate in the community. Billmaier, following in similar professional footsteps, shared a close bond with his uncle. Their sudden disappearance has left loved ones, colleagues, and clients devastated, with online discussions and local media highlighting the eerie nature of an empty boat found floating calmly amid calm conditions.

As the investigation continues under federal oversight, authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward. The family remains hopeful for answers while bracing for the worst, the discovery of the ID papers serving as a grim reminder that this case may hold darker secrets than initially thought. In the vast expanse of the Gulf, where answers can vanish as quickly as people, the Spivey-Billmaier mystery deepens, leaving an entire region on edge.