Randall Spivey, Prominent Florida Attorney, and His Nephew Missing at Sea
Randall Spivey, a Prominent Attorney, and his Nephew are Missing at Sea
The Mysterious Disappearance of Two Florida Attorneys: The Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier Case
On December 19, 2025, what began as a routine fishing expedition off the southwest coast of Florida transformed into one of the most perplexing maritime mysteries in recent memory. Two accomplished attorneys—uncle and nephew—vanished without a trace, leaving behind a running boat, concerned families, and a community desperate for answers. The disappearance of 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier has sparked one of the largest search operations in Southwest Florida history, yet the question remains: what happened to these two experienced boaters on that fateful Friday?
The Men Behind the Mystery
Randall Lynn Spivey was no stranger to the Florida legal community. As the founder and president of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., he had built a reputation as one of the state’s most successful personal injury attorneys. Board-certified in civil trial law—an honor achieved by only one percent of Florida lawyers—Spivey had spent over two decades representing clients in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. His firm’s website proudly notes that he had won over $219 million in compensation for his clients, with numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts to his name.
Brandon Stevens Billmaier, Randall’s nephew, followed in his uncle’s legal footsteps. A personal injury attorney at the Shiner Law Group, Billmaier had established himself as a rising star in the Florida legal community. Born in Ohio and raised in Michigan, he had earned both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Toledo. His colleagues described him as committed to providing exceptional legal services, with a dedication to fighting relentlessly for his clients’ rights. Like his uncle, Billmaier had been recognized for his excellence in personal injury law, being inducted into the Lawyers of Distinction and selected as one of the Top 10 Attorneys in Client Satisfaction.
Both men shared a passion for fishing and the water—an interest that would ultimately lead to their mysterious disappearance. Billmaier’s online biography specifically mentioned that he enjoyed fishing and lobstering in the Florida Keys, making their decision to venture out into the Gulf of Mexico on December 19 seem perfectly natural.
The Fateful Fishing Trip
The two attorneys set out early Friday morning, December 19, 2025, from a residential dock on Intracoastal Court in Fort Myers. They were aboard the “Unstopp-A-Bull,” a 42-foot Freeman boat—a high-end vessel known for its stability and seaworthiness. According to family members, they planned to fish approximately 102 miles offshore, targeting bottom fish in the rich waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The men were expected to return by sunset that evening. When 7:30 p.m. arrived with no word from the pair, concern began to grow among family members. By 9 p.m., with still no contact and darkness having fallen over the Gulf, Tricia Spivey, Randall’s wife, officially reported both men missing to authorities.
What followed was a rapid escalation of search and rescue operations. At approximately 11 p.m. Friday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard deployed a helicopter to begin searching the waters where the men were believed to be fishing. The search intensified throughout the night, with additional resources being committed as the hours passed without any sign of the missing boaters.
The Discovery That Deepened the Mystery
At 1:30 a.m. Saturday, searchers received a breakthrough—of sorts. The “Unstopp-A-Bull” had been located approximately 70 miles off the coast of Naples, floating upright in the Gulf waters. However, this discovery would only deepen the mystery surrounding the men’s disappearance.
When Coast Guard personnel reached the vessel, they made a series of perplexing observations. First, the boat was still running when found—it was in gear and operational. A Coast Guard swimmer had to deploy the vessel’s anchor to prevent it from continuing to drift. Second, there were no signs of the two men anywhere on board or in the immediate vicinity. Third, and perhaps most intriguingly, several life jackets were missing from their storage locations on the boat.
The discovery of the running, unoccupied vessel presented investigators with more questions than answers. Why would two experienced boaters abandon a perfectly functional vessel? If they had encountered trouble, why hadn’t they activated the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which was later found still on board? The missing life jackets suggested the men might have been wearing them, but where had they gone?
A Massive Search Operation
The search for Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier rapidly evolved into one of the most extensive maritime search operations in Southwest Florida’s history. The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated a multi-agency response involving air and surface crews from multiple stations, including:
U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Patrick Air Force Base
The search pattern covered an area approximately 35 statute miles in all directions from where the boat was found, extending from the ocean surface up to 5,000 feet in the air. An urgent marine broadcast was issued to all vessels in the area, requesting assistance in expanding the search range. The Coast Guard deployed an impressive array of assets, including 87-foot and 45-foot response boats, 60-foot helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft.
What made this search operation unique was the massive community response it generated. Word of the missing attorneys spread rapidly through Southwest Florida’s tight-knit boating community. Erin Shaw Harrel of the Facebook group “SWFL Boaters” urged members with capable vessels to join the search effort, providing specific coordinates for volunteers to focus their attention. Brent Stokes, owner of Stokes Marine, also called for volunteers to assist in the search.
The families of the missing men became actively involved in coordinating community efforts. Deborah Billmaier, Brandon’s wife, provided regular updates through social media, sharing information from the Coast Guard and expressing both hope and heartbreak. “I am heartbroken posting this,” she wrote in one social media post, while also noting that a monetary reward was being offered for information leading to the men’s location.
The Investigation: Piecing Together the Puzzle
As the search continued, investigators began piecing together the timeline and circumstances surrounding the disappearance. Several key details emerged that both aided and complicated the investigation:
Weather Conditions: Friday, December 19, began as a relatively calm day on the Gulf, but weather conditions can change rapidly offshore. Investigators examined whether sudden weather changes might have contributed to the men’s disappearance.
Communication Records: Authorities reviewed the men’s cell phone records and the boat’s communication systems. No distress calls had been made, adding to the mystery of why experienced boaters wouldn’t signal for help if they encountered trouble.
Equipment Analysis: The fact that the EPIRB remained on board while life jackets were missing suggested the men may have encountered a situation they believed they could handle without triggering an emergency beacon. This could indicate they either voluntarily entered the water or were forced overboard by circumstances that didn’t immediately seem life-threatening.
GPS and Tracking Data: The boat’s spot tracker had provided GPS coordinates that led searchers to the vessel’s location. Analysis of this data might reveal the boat’s movements and help determine when and where the men might have gone overboard.
Theories and Speculation
The peculiar circumstances of the Spivey-Billmaier disappearance have generated numerous theories within the maritime community and among investigators:
The Sudden Emergency Theory: Some speculate that the men encountered a sudden emergency—perhaps a medical issue with one of them—that caused the other to attempt a rescue, leading to both entering the water. The missing life jackets support this theory, as does the fact that the boat was left running.
The Fishing Accident Scenario: Given that they were bottom fishing, it’s possible that one man became entangled in fishing gear or was pulled overboard while fighting a large fish, with the other attempting a rescue that ultimately failed.
The Man Overboard Hypothesis: The most straightforward explanation suggests that one man accidentally fell overboard, and the other, despite wearing a life jacket, was unable to successfully execute a rescue, possibly becoming a victim himself in the process.
The Foul Play Question: While no evidence has emerged to suggest foul play, investigators must consider all possibilities, especially given the men’s professional backgrounds and the unusual circumstances.
A Community Holds Its Breath
As days passed without resolution, the Southwest Florida community rallied around the families of the missing men. The story resonated particularly strongly within the legal community, where both Spivey and Billmaier were well-known and respected figures. Fellow attorneys, clients, and professional associates shared memories and expressed hope for a miraculous resolution.
The case also highlighted the risks inherent in offshore fishing, even for experienced boaters. The Gulf of Mexico, while generally safe for recreational fishing, can present unexpected challenges. Water temperatures in December, while relatively mild in Southwest Florida, can still pose hypothermia risks for those in the water for extended periods.
The Ongoing Search for Answers
As of this writing, the search for Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier continues, though the passage of time diminishes hopes for a rescue. The Coast Guard has emphasized that search operations continue “as long as there’s hope,” but the reality of survival times in marine environments means the window for finding the men alive continues to narrow.
The families remain hopeful but realistic. Deborah Billmaier’s social media posts have struck a balance between maintaining optimism and acknowledging the growing desperation of the situation. The community response has provided some comfort, with hundreds of volunteers continuing to search both by sea and air.
Implications for Maritime Safety
The disappearance has prompted renewed discussions about maritime safety, particularly regarding the use of personal locator beacons and emergency communication devices. The fact that the boat’s EPIRB remained unused while the men apparently went overboard has led many to question whether additional safety equipment might have prevented the tragedy.
A Mystery That Endures
The case of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier represents one of those frustrating mysteries that leaves more questions than answers. Two experienced, intelligent men vanish from a perfectly functional vessel in relatively good weather conditions. They leave behind successful careers, loving families, and a community desperate for answers.
As search efforts continue and investigators work to piece together the final moments before the men’s disappearance, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the ocean’s unpredictability and the fragility of human life in the marine environment. Whether this mystery will ultimately be solved remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as one of Florida’s most perplexing recent disappearances—a case that has captured the attention of a nation and broken the hearts of a community.
The “Unstopp-A-Bull” may have been found, but the search for Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier continues, both in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and in the hearts and minds of those who knew them, loved them, and now mourn their mysterious disappearance.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier, please contact the U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392 or the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000.