Silent Waters: The Ongoing Mystery of Florida’s Missing Fishermen and the FBI Probe

Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier

The timeline, what we know, who are Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier, and the unanswered questions.

After four intense days searching the waters off Naples, Florida, the Coast Guard called off the hunt for Randall Spivey and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier. Both disappeared on December 19, and despite scouring nearly 6,700 square miles, crews couldn’t find them.

Their families now face the grim truth. On Monday, December 22, as the sun set, the Coast Guard ended its search. Captain Corrie Sergent, who leads the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg, admitted this was the toughest call to make. She thanked everyone—crew members, partners, volunteers—who threw themselves into the effort with heart and professionalism. The Coast Guard extended its deepest condolences to the families, who have been living through a nightmare.

People from all over the Southeast dropped everything to help. Brandon and Randy had set out for a fishing trip about 102 miles off Naples, but they never made it back. When they didn’t return, family members knew something was wrong and reached out to the Coast Guard for help.

The men left in a 42-foot Freeman boat, named "Unstopp-A-Bull." Using GPS from the boat’s tracker, the Coast Guard eventually found the vessel, upright, adrift, engines still in gear, about 70 miles offshore near Marco Island and Flamingo. No sign of the men, but two life jackets were missing, giving the families a small hope that maybe, somehow, they were still out there.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the boat around midnight on December 20. A rescue swimmer dropped down, shut off the engines, and anchored the boat so it wouldn’t drift any farther.

By Monday, search teams had narrowed their focus to a 20-mile-wide patch of ocean about 100 miles from Naples. They searched from the air and sea, but no new clues turned up. The family put out a statement, saying they’re overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who helped. The outpouring of support meant more than words could express.

The FBI is handling the missing persons investigation.

As for Randy Spivey, his wife Tricia can’t say enough about the kind of man he is. Randy spent three decades as a Fort Myers attorney, always fighting for people when they needed help most. He’s a devoted husband, father, and uncle—someone who would do anything for his family. He and Brandon loved to fish; it was their thing. The way the community rallied to look for them shows just how much they’re loved.

In the family’s eyes, Randy is “an incredible, devoted, and loved husband and father.” They said it best: “He has also dedicated his 30 years as an attorney in Southwest Florida to helping those who are injured. We are so grateful to all of our community for now helping us to bring him home.”

So, who is Brandon Billmaier? Well, for starters, he’s a newlywed. He’s also an attorney who decided to follow his uncle’s path and help people who’ve been injured in Florida. His family and friends are desperate to have both Brandon and Randy back, and you can really feel how much they care about them.

Billmaier works out of Boca Raton and joined the Shiner Law Group in August 2023. When news of his disappearance broke, the firm put out a statement on December 22. They called the situation “surreal” and said everyone is still hoping and praying for Brandon and Randy’s safe return. They also asked the public to keep both men in their thoughts and prayers while search efforts continue.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office gave some details about the men. Randy Spivey is a white man, about 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The last time anyone saw him, he was wearing khaki pants and a dark shirt. Brandon Billmaier is a white man as well—he’s 6-foot-2, weighs 250 pounds, and has strawberry blond hair with brown eyes.

A mystery with more questions than answers

News reports point to missing attorney Randall “Randy” Spivey as a crucial witness in the federal investigation into Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno. Public records indicate there was an investigation, and Spivey played a central part. The feds ended the probe in November 2025 with no charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI investigated Sheriff Marceno over claims he misused public funds, spending agency money on things like car payments for himself. Spivey wasn’t just any witness, he was an established attorney and, interestingly, a former “gambling buddy” of the sheriff. He’d told people he was worried the whole case would just fizzle out, and, in the end, that’s exactly what happened.

Local news outlets like WGCU picked up the story, reporting on the investigation, Spivey’s involvement, and another former associate named Ken Romano. They got their hands on audio recordings, documents, and other pieces of evidence that brought the story into the public eye.

Then, just a month after the investigation wrapped up, Spivey and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier, vanished during a fishing trip in December 2025. Their boat turned up empty. The FBI stepped in to handle the missing persons case, and the timing sparked plenty of rumors and speculation. Still, law enforcement hasn’t said there’s any link between their disappearance and the earlier investigation. Right now, it’s just a mystery with more questions than answers.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Coast Guard's St. Petersburg sector at 866-881-1392.