In a heartbreaking development, authorities have officially closed the search for Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, two respected Florida attorneys who vanished during what was meant to be a routine deep-sea fishing trip. The men set out from Fort Myers on December 19, 2025, aboard a 42-foot Freeman boat named “Unstopp-A-Bull,” planning to return the same day. When they failed to check in, their families alerted the U.S. Coast Guard, sparking one of the most intensive searches in recent Gulf waters.

The vessel was discovered adrift around midnight on December 20, approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers, with its engines still running and in gear. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer boarded the boat, shut down the engines, and anchored it for safety before it was towed back to shore for investigation. Despite the boat being found upright and intact, there was no sign of the two men—no distress signals, no life jackets deployed, and no immediate clues to explain their disappearance.

Over the following days, the Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, conducted an exhaustive operation covering roughly 6,700 square miles—an area comparable to the size of Connecticut. Aircraft, boats, and multiple crews scoured the Gulf, but no trace of Spivey or Billmaier was ever located. The search was suspended at sunset on December 22, 2025, as officials cited the passage of time, vast ocean expanse, and diminishing chances of survival in open water.

In a joint family statement, relatives expressed profound grief but also understanding and gratitude toward the responders. They acknowledged the briefing from Coast Guard leadership, which emphasized the high confidence that if the men had been on the surface, they would have been found. The families described the decision to end the active search as difficult yet correct, honoring the men’s adventurous spirit and the realities of the sea.

Spivey, a veteran attorney specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases, and Billmaier, a rising trial lawyer known for his integrity and kindness, were both experienced in Gulf waters. Friends and colleagues remember them as passionate outdoorsmen who loved fishing and spending time on the water. Billmaier’s wife shared emotional pleas online early in the ordeal, offering rewards for information and clinging to hope for a miracle.

The case drew widespread attention, with the FBI stepping in to assist amid questions about the “unusual circumstances”—including why the boat continued running in gear far offshore. Theories ranged from sudden medical emergencies to accidental falls overboard, but no foul play has been confirmed, and the mystery persists.

As the families prepare to move forward without closure, they have asked for compassion and privacy. The Gulf of Mexico, often serene yet unforgiving, has claimed two more lives, leaving loved ones to grieve and remember the men who ventured out for a day on the water and never returned. The ocean holds its secrets tightly, and for now, Spivey and Billmaier remain part of its silent depths.