The desperate search for prominent Fort Myers attorney Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, has taken a chilling turn with reports of an unexpected discovery on the ocean surface. As the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its official operations in late December 2025 after an exhaustive four-day effort, private citizens and volunteers stepped in, deploying aircraft to scour the Gulf of Mexico. According to ongoing updates, these private planes spotted a mysterious trace floating on the water – approximately 12 nautical miles from the location where the two men vanished.

Spivey and Billmaier, both experienced boaters and lawyers, set out on a routine deep-sea fishing trip aboard their 42-foot Freeman vessel named “Unstopp-A-Bull” on December 19, 2025. Departing from a residence in Fort Myers early that morning, they planned a day trip about 100 miles offshore and were expected back by evening. When no contact came, their families raised the alarm around 9 p.m., prompting an immediate response from authorities.

By midnight on December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter located the empty boat drifting roughly 70 miles southwest of Fort Myers, near Naples. Shockingly, the engine was still running, the vessel was in gear, and it remained upright with no visible damage. A rescue swimmer was deployed to secure it, but there was no sign of the men. Two life jackets were reportedly missing, fueling speculation that one may have fallen overboard and the other attempted a rescue – a tragic scenario common in boating incidents.

The Coast Guard’s massive operation covered over 6,700 square miles – an area comparable to the state of Connecticut – involving aircraft, boats, and partner agencies. Despite the intensity, no trace of Spivey or Billmaier was found, leading to the heartbreaking decision to suspend active searching at sunset on December 22, 2025. Officials described it as one of the toughest calls, emphasizing the saturation of the search area without results.

Yet hope persists among families and the community. Private pilots and boaters have continued independent efforts, refusing to give up. These civilian searches reportedly uncovered the intriguing surface clue 12 nautical miles from the original disappearance site, sparking renewed intrigue. While details remain sparse to avoid compromising ongoing probes, the find has reignited discussions about what truly happened on that fateful day.

The case has now shifted to investigative mode, with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Investigative Service leading, supported by the FBI and local law enforcement. The involvement of federal agencies underscores the unusual circumstances: no distress signal, no debris field, and an abandoned but operational boat. Families have expressed gratitude for the tireless efforts while holding onto optimism, urging anyone with information to come forward.

As weeks pass into January 2026, the Gulf of Mexico holds its secrets tightly. This enigmatic discovery by private searchers offers a glimmer of possibility in an otherwise baffling mystery. Could it be a vital lead, or just another red herring in the vast ocean? The families of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier continue to wait for answers, praying for closure in one of Florida’s most perplexing missing persons cases.