The disappearance of Florida attorney Brandon Billmaier and his uncle Randall Spivey has gripped the nation since mid-December 2025, when the two experienced boaters vanished during a routine fishing trip off the Fort Myers coast. Their 42-foot catamaran, “Unstopp-A-Bull,” was discovered adrift and empty about 70 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, with the engine still running and no signs of distress. Two life jackets were missing, sparking hope that the men might have been wearing them after possibly falling overboard.

Brandon, a 33-year-old trial lawyer at the Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton, had followed in his uncle’s footsteps. Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, was a prominent personal injury attorney and founder of his own firm in Fort Myers. The pair, both passionate about deep-sea fishing, left early on December 19, 2025, expecting to return by sunset. When they didn’t, family members alerted the U.S. Coast Guard that evening.

What followed was one of the largest search operations in Southwest Florida history. The Coast Guard deployed helicopters, planes, and boats, covering thousands of square miles. Volunteers from across the region joined private searches, guided by GPS coordinates from the boat’s tracker. Despite exhaustive efforts, no trace of the men was found. On December 22, the Coast Guard suspended active searching at sunset, citing safety risks for volunteers as the search area drifted farther offshore. The case then transitioned to an FBI missing persons investigation, exploring all possibilities in this baffling incident.

Families held onto hope amid heartbreak. Brandon’s wife, Deborah Billmaier, shared emotional updates on social media, describing her husband as a devoted family man who lived for fishing and his loved ones. She organized volunteer efforts and even offered a reward for information leading to their recovery. Randall’s family echoed similar sentiments, praising his expertise as a lifelong boater.

Adding a layer of intrigue to this already perplexing case, Deborah reportedly received a mysterious phone call from an unknown number in the middle of the night, shortly after authorities announced a shift in the search focus—possibly redirecting resources or acknowledging the grim likelihood of a tragic accident. She picked up, managing only to utter a couple of words before the line went dead with a dial tone. No voice, no message—just silence on the other end. The timing has fueled speculation: Could it have been Brandon trying to reach out? A wrong number? Or something more sinister?

While officials have not confirmed foul play, the empty boat with no damage and the sudden vanishing have left room for questions. Theories range from a man-overboard incident—perhaps one fell in and the other attempted a rescue—to unexpected mechanical issues or environmental factors in the vast Gulf waters.

As of early January 2026, the men remain missing, and the investigation continues quietly. The families, supported by their communities, cling to faith and prayers. This haunting case serves as a stark reminder of the ocean’s unpredictable dangers, even for seasoned mariners. What truly happened to Brandon Billmaier and Randall Spivey that day may forever remain one of the sea’s unsolved mysteries.