In a dramatic turn in one of Florida’s most baffling missing persons cases, authorities have reportedly discovered a significant trace linked to a suspect in the disappearance of Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33. The two prominent attorneys vanished during what was meant to be a routine deep-sea fishing trip off the southwest Florida coast on December 19, 2025.

The pair departed from Fort Myers aboard Spivey’s 42-foot Freeman catamaran, named “Unstopp-A-Bull,” heading approximately 100 miles offshore for bottom fishing. They were expected back by sunset, but when they failed to return or respond, family members alerted the U.S. Coast Guard around 9 p.m. A massive search operation ensued, involving air and sea assets that scoured thousands of square miles—an area roughly the size of Connecticut.

The next day, just after midnight on December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter located the vessel drifting about 70 miles west of Fort Myers near Naples. The boat was upright, engines still running in gear, and anchored by a rescue swimmer for safety before being towed to Fort Myers Beach for examination. Notably absent were the two men, along with two life jackets, fueling immediate speculation of foul play rather than a simple accident.

Initial theories from officials suggested one man may have fallen overboard, with the other jumping in to assist, unaware the boat would continue moving away at speed. However, the “unusual circumstances”—an empty boat still powered, no distress signals, and the men’s experience as avid, capable fishermen—prompted the FBI to join the probe shortly after the Coast Guard suspended active search efforts on December 22.

Now, police have officially identified a promising lead: evidence pointing to a potential suspect tied to the fishing vessel. Details remain closely guarded, but the breakthrough involves forensic traces that could help identify an individual or vehicle involved. This development shifts the case firmly toward a possible abduction or targeted incident, amid lingering online rumors connecting Spivey to past legal or investigative matters—though no official confirmation links any prior cases.

Spivey, a well-known personal injury attorney in Fort Myers, and Billmaier, a trial lawyer based in Boca Raton, were described by loved ones as inseparable family members who frequently fished together. Billmaier’s wife shared heartbreaking details of their final communications—a routine check-in text before silence fell—highlighting the suddenness of their vanishing.

The investigation continues under FBI oversight, with hopes that this new suspect trace will provide answers after weeks of uncertainty. Families and the community remain heartbroken, clinging to any hope of resolution in what has become a haunting mystery on the Gulf waters. As leads solidify, the focus intensifies: Was this a tragic accident at sea, or something far more sinister?