Families Cling to Hope Amid Heartbreaking Disappearance of Two Florida Attorneys in the Gulf of Mexico

❤️ A Quiet Promise and Unyielding Vigil

In the quiet coastal communities of Southwest Florida, two families are holding on to hope with a tenacity that defies the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Gulf of Mexico. Randall “Randy” Spivey, a 57-year-old prominent personal injury attorney from Fort Myers, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier, a trial lawyer from Boca Raton, vanished during what was supposed to be a routine deep-sea fishing trip on December 19, 2025. As search boats once swept the waters and helicopters scanned the horizon, loved ones refused to surrender to despair. Randy’s wife, Tricia, finds solace in clutching his jacket each night, while Brandon’s parents and family maintain a steadfast presence along the shoreline. And lingering in the air is a quiet promise Randy made before departing—a vow to return—that now carries an emotional weight no one could have anticipated.

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The Day They Vanished

The story began like so many others in Florida’s boating culture: an early morning departure for a day of fishing. Randy Spivey and Brandon Billmaier set out from Spivey’s waterfront home in Iona, a suburb of Fort Myers, aboard the 42-foot Freeman catamaran named “Unstopp-A-Bull.” The vessel, a high-performance fishing boat known for its stability and speed, was equipped with modern safety features, including a SPOT tracker and emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).

The pair, both experienced boaters and avid fishermen, planned to venture approximately 100 miles offshore for bottom fishing. They were expected back by sunset. Randy, described by friends as “safety-conscious” with over 30 years of fishing experience, often took such trips with family. Brandon, who looked up to his uncle as a second father, had followed in Randy’s footsteps into the legal profession and shared his passion for the sea.

By evening, when no word came, alarm bells rang. Tricia Spivey and Brandon’s wife, Deborah, contacted authorities around 9 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard launched an immediate response, deploying aircraft overnight.

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The Empty Boat: A Chilling Discovery

In the early hours of December 20, a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Clearwater located the “Unstopp-A-Bull” adrift approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers, near Marco Island. The boat was upright, engines still running in gear, but eerily empty. A rescue swimmer boarded, secured the vessel, and anchored it. Later that day, it was towed back to Station Fort Myers Beach for investigation.

Crucially, two life jackets were missing from the boat. This detail sparked a glimmer of hope: family members believed Randy and Brandon might have donned them before whatever incident forced them overboard. No signs of distress, damage, or foul play were immediately apparent on the vessel, deepening the mystery.

The discovery transformed the operation into one of the largest search efforts in Southwest Florida history. The Coast Guard coordinated with multiple agencies, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and partner air stations from Miami and beyond. Over the next days, crews searched an area spanning roughly 6,700 square miles—comparable to the size of Connecticut—with winds around 10 mph and 3-foot seas.

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Community Rallies: Volunteers Join the Search

Word spread quickly through social media and local networks. Hundreds of volunteers—boaters, pilots, and good Samaritans from across Florida and neighboring states—joined the effort. Private aircraft and vessels scoured assigned grids, coordinated through groups like SWFL Boaters on Facebook. Brent Stokes of Stokes Marine and others urged capable boat owners to assist.

Paul Rocuant, a longtime friend of Randy Spivey, helped organize volunteers. “Randy’s my best friend since 1995,” he said. “He’s like a brother.” The community response was overwhelming, with friends describing both men as “lights” in their worlds—generous, community-oriented, and deeply loved.

Randy Spivey, founder of Spivey Law Firm, was known for his dedication to helping injured clients. His son, Randy Jr., posted on social media: “My dad and my cousin are still missing and we are not giving up.” Brandon, a recent addition to Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton, was praised as an “exceptional person and great lawyer.”

The Families’ Unwavering Hope

As days passed, the families’ resolve shone through the heartbreak. Tricia Spivey, voice trembling in interviews, pleaded for their safe return: “We’ve gotta find them. Please.” She spoke of her husband’s love for fishing and his meticulous safety habits.

Deborah Billmaier, Brandon’s wife, shared her anguish on social media: “I am heartbroken posting this.” In a later exclusive interview, she reflected on their love story, meeting in 2020, and how Brandon lived for his family and the sea. Even after the search suspension, she held onto faith for a “Christmas miracle.”

Brandon’s parents, though less quoted publicly, were said to refuse to leave the shoreline, standing vigil as if willing their son to appear on the horizon. Family statements emphasized gratitude for searchers while respecting the dangers of continuing in open water.

A poignant detail emerged in family circles: before leaving, Randy made a quiet promise to return safely—a casual assurance now heavy with meaning, symbolizing the bond between uncle and nephew.

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The Difficult Decision to Suspend

On December 22, at sunset, the Coast Guard made the “no harder decision” to suspend active search efforts. Capt. Sergent expressed profound gratitude to crews and volunteers but noted the exhaustive coverage yielded no results.

The family responded with grace: “While this is heartbreaking, Brandon and Randy would never want anyone else to put their life in danger.” They acknowledged the experts’ conclusion that everything possible had been done.

Yet, the case is far from closed. The FBI has taken over as a federal missing persons investigation, citing the “unusual circumstances.” Questions linger: What caused two experienced men to abandon a running boat? Could currents have carried them far? Theories range from a sudden medical issue to an accidental fall overboard.

Lives Cut Short? Or a Miracle Awaited?

Randall Spivey and Brandon Billmaier were more than attorneys; they were devoted family men whose absence leaves voids in multiple communities. Randy, a pillar in Fort Myers, mentored many, including Brandon, who aspired to join his firm one day. Their shared trips forged unbreakable bonds.

As of December 28, 2025, no new leads have surfaced. The Gulf, vast and indifferent, holds its secrets. But the families cling to hope—Tricia with Randy’s jacket, loved ones on the shore, and that unspoken promise echoing.

In tragedies like this, hope is not denial; it’s defiance. The search may have paused, but the vigil continues. ❤️