FL 2 Boaters missing: Randall Spivey 57 & Brandon Billmaier 33, Fort Myers FL. Missing 12/19/25 Boat found 12/20/25

[swanniee11]

Abandoned boat found in search for missing Florida men

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for two men missing since a Friday morning.

www.wftv.com

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for two men missing since a fishing trip near Fort Myers, Fla. Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, were last seen leaving early Friday morning

2 men vanish after going fishing off the coast of Florida’s Lee County

Two men vanished while fishing on Friday off the coast of Florida’s Lee County, and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter found their empty boat on Saturday morning.

www.local10.com

Two Florida men missing after fishing trip; Coast Guard search underway

The men departed from a residence in the 15000 block of Intracoastal Court in Fort Myers.

www.nbcmiami.com

Florida attorney, nephew, missing while fishing in Gulf: What we know

Attorney Randall Spivey, 57, and his nephew Brandon Billmaier, 33, were reported missing after their boat was floating upright and empty in the Gulf.

www.naplesnews.com

Florida attorney, nephew, missing while fishing in Gulf​

Randall's FB Log into Facebook
Brandon's FB Facebook

 

[GraceG]

This article stated their intent was to fish 102 miles off shore (probably the reason for a boat with four outboard motors, I'm thinking). NOTE: the article can be read once for free, but if you exit and go back it will try and get you to subscribe to the media source. https://www.news-press.com/story/ne...v11xx63d--xx--b--xx--&gca-ft=203&gca-ds=sophi

I wonder if they can tell from what's on board whether they were still on their way out when they went overboard, or on their way back IN. (might make a difference in the search area).

I lost an uncle that fell overboard (river, not ocean) after a likely cardiac issue. They just found his boat (and eventially him). It can happen, and i'm thinking if one went over, the other might have gone in to save him, but if they weren't physicallyconnected to a kill switch, the boat may have continued on without them. Just one possible scenario of many that could have happened.

 

[Spectrix]

I wonder if they can tell from what's on board whether they were still on their way out when they went overboard, or on their way back IN. (might make a difference in the search area).

In the picture in this article, the boat appears to be anchored when it's found. Doesn't tell us much but it's curious that the distance doesn't match their destination. I wonder why they anchored in that particular spot?

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[GraceG]

In the picture in this article, the boat appears to be anchored when it's found. Doesn't tell us much but it's curious that the distance doesn't match their destination. I wonder why they anchored in that particular spot?

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The missing men didn't anchor the boat - a Coast Guard swimmer deployed the vessel's anchor when it was located, running.

Riley Perkofski, a public affairs specialist for the US Coast Guard Southeast District, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the boat was still running when it was located.

“The boat was in gear,” Perkofski said. “We deployed a swimmer, and then the swimmer deployed the vessel’s anchor so that it wouldn’t keep moving.”
From the New York Post:

Desperate search for 2 men underway after fishing boat found empty off Florida coast

The search for two missing fishermen identified as 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier is underway after their boat was found without them on board.

nypost.com

 

[Pharmasgirl]

The missing men didn't anchor the boat - a Coast Guard swimmer deployed the vessel's anchor when it was located, running.

Riley Perkofski, a public affairs specialist for the US Coast Guard Southeast District, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the boat was still running when it was located.

“The boat was in gear,” Perkofski said. “We deployed a swimmer, and then the swimmer deployed the vessel’s anchor so that it wouldn’t keep moving.”
From the New York Post:

Desperate search for 2 men underway after fishing boat found empty off Florida coast

The search for two missing fishermen identified as 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier is underway after their boat was found without them on board.

nypost.com

Any other similar 'situations' in the area or historical info available?

 

[GraceG]

Any other similar 'situations' in the area or historical info available?

I didn't immediately note anything in these particular waters that's recent but this site maintains a list of missing and overdue boats worldwide, searchable by year with geographic location noted for each. Missing or Overdue Vessels | Boat Watch, International search aid for missing & overdue boats.

 

[Sleuthster]

Any other similar 'situations' in the area or historical info available?

Reminds me of Ace Kimberly and his 3 teenagers. The 2 they found were about 100 miles off ft myers. They never found the other 2.

https://www.wwlp.com/news/body-found-during-search-for-father-three-teens-missing-off-florida-coast/

 

[GraceG]

Reminds me of Ace Kimberly and his 3 teenagers. The 2 they found were about 100 miles off ft myers. They never found the other 2.

https://www.wwlp.com/news/body-found-during-search-for-father-three-teens-missing-off-florida-coast/

I'd forgotten about that one, but that was likely attritutable to the heavy seas and thunderstorm(s) they likely ventured into. The trip they were taking (to get repairs to the boat) was a distance of 100 miles but they weren't that far off shore when found, about 37 miles. There was mention made from residents of the marina where it resided that the boat was in bad shape with loose bulkheads.

Heavy thunderstorms are equally unforgiving to aircraft and boats. Missing family lived aboard boat, off the grid

This new case looks like a relatively new million dollar boat. And no damage from what has been said. Something took them overboard, an accident, rogue wave? Hard to say.

 

[swanniee11]

Search expands in Gulf for missing Fort Myers fishermen after boat found running with no one aboard

Crews are intensifying their search for Randy Spivey and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier, who went missing during a fishing trip off the Fort Myers coast.

www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com

SNIPPED: Search coordinators have renewed hope after learning that they may have been wearing blue and yellow auto-inflate life jackets, which could increase their chances of survival.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/search-continues-after-florida-boaters-vanish-at-sea-abandoned-boat-recovered/

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) — On Monday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard officially suspended the search for two missing boaters who took off on a fishing trip from Fort Myers last week and never returned.
…
The search has been suspended pending the development of any new information, USCG said, and the FBI will lead the missing person investigation. Anyone with information about this case is asked to USCG Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392.
…..

Normal to have FBI brought in? Gotta be more to this story.

 

[GraceG]

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/search-continues-after-florida-boaters-vanish-at-sea-abandoned-boat-recovered/

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WFLA) — On Monday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard officially suspended the search for two missing boaters who took off on a fishing trip from Fort Myers last week and never returned.
…
The search has been suspended pending the development of any new information, USCG said, and the FBI will lead the missing person investigation. Anyone with information about this case is asked to USCG Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392.
…..

Normal to have FBI brought in? Gotta be more to this story.

It's normal for the FBI to be brought in for a missing person(s) case in international waters. I'd be more surprised if they WEREN'T brought in. They work closely with the Coast Guard. As to the definition of "international waters", at its simplest, ‘international waters’ can be defined as any body water outside of the jurisdiction of an individual nation.These bodies of water generally exist between two different nations, beyond the territorial waters of each state, usually starting some 12 nautical miles from the low water mark of a coastal state. International Waters Law & Jones Act Lawyers - O'Bryan Law.

 

[Quiet Time]

What do they mean when they say the boat 'was in gear?' Was it idling or in drive??...(excuse my boat lingo)

 

[TristanP]

What do they mean when they say the boat 'was in gear?' Was it idling or in drive??...(excuse my boat lingo)

I'm assuming it means it was in "drive" so unfortunately the boat isn't a good indicator of a search area.

Being lost at sea is such a scary concept to me. I remember when the 2 14-year-olds went missing several years ago, Austin and Perry, and it was so heartbreaking.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Make Boating Safety a Priority

Fort Myers Boating Accident Attorney discusses how to make safety a boating priority. Call us today for a free consultation at (888) 477-4839.

www.spiveylaw.com

A little history on Randall Spivey shows he knew boat safety.

Fort Myers Boating Accident Attorney Says “Make Boating Safety a Priority”​

August 23, 2022 | Category: Boating Accidents | Share
Florida boating is one of the many enjoyments of our lives. Whether it’s just a day of sightseeing, fishing, or other activities, Fort Myers Boating Accident Attorney Randall Spiveyurges boaters to make boating safety a priority.

At a May 2022 media briefing, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, “Safety begins at the dock.”

 

[Pharmasgirl]

I didn't immediately note anything in these particular waters that's recent but this site maintains a list of missing and overdue boats worldwide, searchable by year with geographic location noted for each. Missing or Overdue Vessels | Boat Watch, International search aid for missing & overdue boats.

I'm assuming it means it was in "drive" so unfortunately the boat isn't a good indicator of a search area.

Being lost at sea is such a scary concept to me. I remember when the 2 14-year-olds went missing several years ago, Austin and Perry, and it was so heartbreaking.

if it was just idling, it was probably in 'neutral' (like a car.) Boat would have drifted with the ocean current... which brings us no closer to what happened. So very sad...

 

[Quiet Time]

Can you start a boat in gear? (from Google)


If a boat were to start with the engine in gear the operator and passengers could be knocked down or be thrown overboard and likely injured as the boat suddenly lurches forward or backward.

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May be this is a possibility if they had tried to start it while 'in gear'