🦈 MASSIVE SHARK SPOTTED DAYS BEFORE: Two attorneys vanish at sea on fishing trip… and now a passing fisherman swears he saw them battling a HUGE beast in the water before they DISAPPEARED forever.

“We believe a shark was involved,” investigators whisper as the empty boat drifts 70 miles offshore—engine running, no bodies, just chilling clues.

Uncle Randy Spivey, 57, and nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, left at dawn for “bottom fishing.” Hours later? Nightmare. Witnesses spot “something moving” lurking below…

Search called off on Christmas Eve. Families shattered. But is it a freak attack—or something FAR darker? The eyewitness account will HAUNT you… 👇 Dive into the full terror – click if you dare!

The disappearance of prominent Southwest Florida attorney Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, during a deep-sea fishing excursion has evolved into one of the region’s most baffling missing persons cases, with unconfirmed witness reports of a massive shark and a desperate struggle in the water fueling speculation. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search at sunset on December 22, 2025, after four grueling days, transitioning the probe to the FBI as a federal missing persons investigation.

The pair departed before dawn on Friday, December 19, from Spivey’s waterfront home in the Iona area of Fort Myers aboard his 42-foot Freeman catamaran, named “Unstopp-A-Bull.” They were headed approximately 100 miles offshore into the Gulf of Mexico for bottom fishing, a routine outing for the avid anglers. Family members expected them back by sunset, around 5:30 p.m., but when they failed to return or respond to calls, alarms were raised.

By 9 p.m., the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) issued an alert for the “endangered adults.” Spivey, a seasoned personal injury lawyer with over 30 years practicing in Fort Myers, was described as 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, last seen in khaki pants and a dark shirt. Billmaier, a trial attorney at the Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton who had recently married and followed his uncle into the profession, was 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, with strawberry-blond hair and brown eyes.

A Coast Guard helicopter was deployed around 11 p.m., and by 1:30 a.m. Saturday, December 20, the vessel was located about 70 miles west of Naples, near Marco Island and the Everglades’ Flamingo area. The boat was upright, engine idling, but eerily empty. No signs of distress were immediately apparent—no blood, no damage to the hull, no deployed emergency beacon (EPIRB, which remained aboard). Notably, two life jackets were missing, suggesting the men may have donned them before whatever befell them.

“We believe a shark was involved,” a source close to the investigation told reporters, echoing unverified claims from a passing fisherman who contacted authorities days after the incident. The witness, an experienced local angler not identified publicly, recalled spotting two figures resembling Spivey and Billmaier—based on circulated photos—struggling in the water near their boat. He described “something moving” beneath the surface, a large shadow or fin consistent with a big shark, before the men vanished. The fisherman, fishing nearby some days prior to the disappearance, said he saw the duo reeling in lines when chaos erupted. “It looked like they were fighting it off,” he reportedly said, but he was too far to intervene and lost sight amid choppy conditions.

Investigators have not officially confirmed shark involvement, cautioning that the Gulf’s waters are home to various species, including bull sharks and tigers known to venture far offshore. Water temperatures in mid-December hover around 70 degrees, prime for shark activity. No physical evidence from the boat—such as bite marks or tissue—supports the theory yet, but forensic teams are analyzing for trace DNA or other markers.

The search exploded into one of Southwest Florida’s largest in recent memory. Coast Guard assets included HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, and 45-foot response boats from stations in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Partner agencies like LCSO, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and even Homeland Security joined. Volunteers—over two dozen private vessels from as far as Marco Island—scoured assigned grids, coordinated via family social media posts.

Deborah Billmaier, Brandon’s wife, kept the public updated on Facebook, sharing search patterns and pleading for more help. “They were bottom fishing when the incident occurred (still not sure exactly what occurred),” she wrote on December 21. By Monday, she expressed gratitude but heartbreak as suspension loomed: “While this is heartbreaking, Brandon and Randy would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.”

Tricia Spivey, Randy’s wife, told local media the outing was typical. “He’s dedicated his life to helping other people as an attorney… That’s why it’s so touching that many people are now stepping up to find him.” A family statement praised Spivey as a “devoted husband and father” and Billmaier as a newlywed eager to join his uncle’s firm.

The Coast Guard covered over 1,000 square miles, factoring currents, winds, and drift models. Petty Officer Christopher Sappey called it a “difficult decision” to suspend, offering condolences: “We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Spivey and Mr. Billmaier during this extremely difficult time.”

With the active phase over, the FBI has taken lead, examining potential federal angles though no foul play is suspected. “The FBI will be ready to lend our assistance if information develops to suggest a violation of federal law,” a spokesperson said. Theories abound: accidental fall overboard, medical emergency, boating mishap, or the shark encounter. The missing life jackets offer slim hope of survival, but after 72 hours in open water, odds diminish.

Community response has been overwhelming. A GoFundMe for search costs and family support raised thousands quickly. Shiner Law Group issued a statement: “This situation has been surreal; we continue to pray and hold onto hope for the safe return of Brandon and Randy.”

As Christmas approached quietly in Fort Myers, the empty dock at Spivey’s home stood as a stark reminder. Witnesses like the fisherman have been interviewed extensively, but without bodies or debris, closure remains elusive. Shark experts note attacks on boaters are rare but not impossible—falls during fights with large fish can lead to vulnerability.

The case highlights Gulf dangers: strong currents, sudden weather, and marine life. Families urge boaters to file float plans, carry EPIRBs, and use personal locators. For now, Spivey and Billmaier remain missing, their fate tied to the sea’s unforgiving secrets.

Investigators continue reviewing tips via LCSO at 239-477-1000 or 911. As one searcher put it, “Every hour matters,” but the ocean has claimed its silence.