Search Continues for Missing Florida Men Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier; Abandoned Vessel Located
- T Michele Walker
- Dec 22, 2025
- 3 min read
The search for Randall Spivey, a 57-year-old attorney from Fort Myers, and his nephew, 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier, stretched into Monday morning with no sign of the missing men. They disappeared after a fishing trip off the coast of Naples on December 19. The U.S. Coast Guard said it would keep searching through the night, both by air and sea.
On Facebook, family members shared plans for a new grid search, set to begin Monday morning, December 22, about 70 miles east of Naples. Volunteers will be leading that effort, hoping for a breakthrough.
The two men set out Friday in a 42-foot Freeman boat named "Unstopp-A-Bull." According to Coast Guard supervisor Luis Garcia, they were supposed to return by sunset, but never made it back. The Coast Guard later found the boat floating upright in the Gulf, about 70 miles offshore, but the men were gone.
This has quickly become one of the largest searches in Southwest Florida’s history. The community has rallied, with family and friends asking for prayers and calling for more volunteers.
Deborah Billmaier, Brandon’s wife, keeps everyone updated on Facebook. On Sunday, she posted, “We’re asking for vessels capable of a 225-mile range to help with a major offshore search.” She thanked everyone pitching in to bring her husband and uncle home. “They haven’t been found yet, but we’re staying positive,” she wrote.
Anyone who wants to help can text Paul at 239-634-3400 with their departure location, vessel name, captain’s and first mate’s names and cell numbers, and vessel range. Boats will leave from various locations, from Fort Myers to Marco Island. Search grids get assigned after new info comes in at 8 a.m. Monday.
Deborah shared more details after talking with the Coast Guard Sunday morning. She explained that the boat’s emergency beacon (EPIRB) was still on board. The men were bottom fishing when something went wrong, though no one’s sure exactly what happened. A couple of life jackets were missing from the boat, so there’s hope the men are wearing them.
The search includes air and surface crews from several Coast Guard stations—Fort Myers Beach, Clearwater, and Miami—as well as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Deborah listed the resources involved: an 87-foot boat, a 45-foot boat, a 60-foot helicopter, and a plane from Patrick Air Force Base. An urgent marine broadcast has gone out to all vessels in the area to widen the search.
By Sunday morning, the Coast Guard had organized one of the biggest search efforts the region’s ever seen, starting at first light. Local leaders and boaters have joined in, sharing updates and search coordinates. Erin Shaw Harrel from the Facebook group SWFL Boaters urged people to take to the water, sharing coordinates for the search. Brent Stokes, owner of Stokes Marine, called for more volunteers and told people to reach out to Tricia Spivey or the Coast Guard directly if they wanted to help.
Right now, everyone is hoping for good news, as the search continues.
Capt. Corrie Sergent with the Coast Guard’s Sector St. Petersburg posted early Sunday on X, letting everyone know their crews were “pursuing all leads and saturating the area.” She thanked the local community for all the support.
The Coast Guard found the missing boat—a 42-foot Freeman named “Unstopp-A-Bull”—upright and empty in the Gulf, but there was still no sign of attorney Randall Spivey, 57, or his nephew, Brandon Billmaier, 33.
So, who are Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier? Spivey, a Florida attorney, and his nephew were reported missing Friday night around 9 p.m. Tricia Spivey called it in, saying her husband and nephew had gone out fishing about 102 miles offshore but hadn’t returned. Luis Garcia, the Coast Guard supervisor on watch in St. Petersburg, confirmed those details.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Spivey is a white male, 6’1”, 245 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen in khaki pants and a dark shirt. Billmaier is also white, 6’2”, 250 pounds, with strawberry hair and brown eyes.
The Coast Guard discovered the “Unstopp-A-Bull” floating about 70 miles off Naples, near Marco Island and Flamingo. Tricia Spivey said the boat’s GPS tracker led searchers straight to that spot. That’s where teams have been focused.
If you know anything that could help, the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg wants to hear from you at 866-881-1392. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is also asking for help to bring Spivey and Billmaier home.
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