GPS Data and Currents Complicate Search for Missing Florida Boaters Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier
The disappearance of Fort Myers attorney Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, during a deep-sea fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico has raised questions about the role of ocean currents and GPS tracking in the search efforts. While official sources confirm the use of GPS data from the boat’s SPOT tracker to locate the empty vessel, unverified claims of “swirling currents not matching expected flow” or “purposeful movement” leading to untouched search areas remain hypothetical and unsupported by mainstream reports as of January 4, 2026.
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Spivey and Billmaier, both experienced attorneys and avid fishermen, departed early on December 19, 2025, from Spivey’s home in the Iona area of Fort Myers aboard a 42-foot Freeman Boatworks catamaran named “Unstopp-A-Bull” (sometimes referred to as “Unstoppable” in reports). They planned a day trip approximately 100 miles offshore west of Naples for bottom fishing, with an expected return by sunset.
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When they failed to return or communicate, families alerted the U.S. Coast Guard around 9 p.m. that evening. Using GPS coordinates from the boat’s SPOT satellite tracker—a common safety device for offshore vessels—the Coast Guard located the green Freeman 42LR adrift around midnight on December 20, approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers.
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The vessel was found upright, engines running, still in gear, with fishing lines deployed. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer boarded, shut down the engines, retrieved the lines to avoid hazards, and anchored the boat. No one was aboard, and two life jackets were missing, offering a glimmer of hope that the men may have donned them.
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The Massive Search and Suspension
The Coast Guard launched an extensive operation involving helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, cutters, and partner agencies, covering thousands of square miles. Volunteers from across Florida and beyond joined with private boats and planes, making it one of the largest offshore searches in Southwest Florida history. Family members, including Spivey’s wife Tricia and Billmaier’s wife Deborah, coordinated additional efforts and shared pleas on social media.
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Despite these efforts, no trace of Spivey or Billmaier was found. At sunset on December 22, 2025, the Coast Guard suspended active search and rescue operations, citing expanding risk to responders as the drift area moved farther offshore. Captain Corrie Sergent expressed condolences, noting the “utmost professionalism” of the teams.
The case transitioned to the FBI as a missing persons investigation, with Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno confirming federal involvement.
Theories and Unverified Claims About Drift and GPS
Common speculation, echoed in boating forums like The Hull Truth, suggests one man fell overboard while fishing, and the other attempted a rescue—only for the unmanned, in-gear boat to speed away, leaving both in the water. Missing life jackets support the possibility they were wearing them.
GPS data from the SPOT tracker proved crucial in finding the boat quickly, allowing searchers to backtrack probable overboard locations using drift models. Coast Guard protocols incorporate currents, winds, and sea conditions for such calculations.
However, social media rumors alleging “swirling currents not matching flow” or the boat “moving purposefully” toward unsearched areas lack confirmation from official sources. Gulf currents, influenced by the Loop Current, can be complex and variable, but no reports indicate anomalies confounding teams beyond standard challenges. Claims of “confusing GPS directions” appear unsubstantiated, as the tracker accurately guided rescuers to the vessel.
Weather on December 19 was calm with light winds, and water temperatures around 70°F reduced survivability over time due to hypothermia risks.
Who Were Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier?
Randall “Randy” Spivey was a prominent personal injury attorney with Spivey Law Firm in Fort Myers, known for helping injured clients over 30 years. Described as safety-conscious and devoted to family, he was an experienced boater.
Brandon Billmaier, a trial attorney at Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton since 2023, followed his uncle into law. Recently married, he was remembered as compassionate and full of life.
Family statements emphasized gratitude for searchers while respecting the suspension decision, noting the men “would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.”
As the FBI continues the probe, hope lingers in the community, though the vast Gulf presents immense challenges. This incident underscores offshore safety: EPIRBs, personal locator beacons, and kill switches are recommended to prevent similar tragedies.
