The ongoing search for two missing Florida attorneys, Randall “Randy” Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, has encountered a devastating complication with meteorological authorities issuing warnings of an approaching major storm in the Gulf of Mexico.

The pair, both experienced in law and passionate about deep-sea fishing, vanished on December 19, 2025, during what was supposed to be a routine fishing trip. They departed early that morning from Fort Myers aboard Spivey’s 42-foot Freeman catamaran, named “Unstopp-A-Bull.” Family members reported them overdue that evening, triggering an immediate response from the U.S. Coast Guard.

By midnight on December 20, search teams located the vessel adrift approximately 70 miles offshore, west of Naples. Shockingly, the boat was found upright with its engines still running, but completely empty. No signs of distress were evident, and crucially, two life jackets were missing, offering a glimmer of hope that the men may have donned them before entering the water.

Authorities speculate that one of the men may have fallen overboard, prompting the other to jump in for a rescue attempt, unaware that the boat’s throttle remained engaged, causing it to drift away. The Gulf’s currents and vast expanse quickly turned the incident into a nightmare scenario.

The Coast Guard launched one of the largest search operations in Southwest Florida history, covering over 6,700 square miles – an area roughly the size of Connecticut. Dozens of boats, aircraft, and volunteers from across the region joined the effort, with private pilots and boaters coordinating through social media and family networks. Weather conditions during the initial search were relatively mild, with winds around 10 mph and seas of 3 feet.

Despite the massive mobilization, the Coast Guard suspended active search operations at sunset on December 22, 2025, after four exhaustive days. The decision was described as heartbreaking, with officials emphasizing the risks to rescuers. The case has since transitioned to an FBI-led missing persons investigation, exploring all possible angles.

Families remain gripped by anguish yet cling to hope. Spivey, a prominent Fort Myers injury lawyer with over 30 years of experience, is remembered as a devoted family man and safety-conscious boater. Billmaier, a trial attorney at a Boca Raton firm who followed in his uncle’s footsteps, had recently married and dreamed of joining Spivey’s practice.

Now, as January 2026 unfolds, a new threat emerges: forecasts indicate a powerful storm system brewing in the Gulf, potentially bringing high winds, rough seas, and heavy precipitation. This impending weather event could scatter any remaining clues, erode potential survival chances if the men are adrift, and complicate private or renewed search efforts.

The mystery of their disappearance – no distress signals, an intact boat, and missing life jackets – continues to baffle experts. In the unforgiving ocean, time is the ultimate enemy, and with a major storm on the horizon, the window for answers may be closing fast. Families and the community urge anyone with information to come forward, holding onto the faint possibility of a miracle amid the gathering clouds.