The families of Brandon Billmaier and his uncle, Randy Spivey Sr., are facing a devastating holiday season after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the two men, who vanished during a fishing trip off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida. The disappearance of the 33-year-old Boca Raton attorney and his 57-year-old uncle has sent ripples of shock and sorrow through both their local communities and the broader legal world they inhabited.
According to CBS12, the ordeal began on Friday, December 19, 2025, when Billmaier and Spivey set off from Fort Myers for what was meant to be a day of offshore fishing. The pair, experienced boaters and close family members, took to the Gulf of Mexico aboard a green 42-foot Freeman catamaran fittingly named "Unstoppable." Their plan was simple: enjoy some time on the water and return by sunset. But when they failed to come back as expected, concern quickly mounted.
By 9 p.m. that evening, the men were reported overdue, prompting Coast Guard watchstanders to coordinate a rapid response. Search crews were dispatched to the boaters' last known position, launching a massive effort that would ultimately span 6,700 square miles—an area roughly the size of Connecticut. Conditions at sea included winds of about 10 mph and three-foot swells, challenging but not insurmountable for seasoned mariners.
It was around midnight on Saturday, December 20, when a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater located the "Unstoppable" adrift, approximately 70 miles west of Fort Myers. A rescue swimmer boarded the vessel, secured it, and the catamaran was later towed back to Station Fort Myers Beach for further investigation. But the boat was empty. There was no trace of Brandon or Randy.
The mystery deepened, and with it, the anguish of their loved ones. The Coast Guard, alongside partner agencies like the Florida State Guard, Lee County Sheriff's Office, and volunteers using private boats and aircraft, scoured the Gulf. More than two dozen boats and multiple aircraft participated in the search, following meticulously plotted rescue grids and patterns made public for transparency.
As the hours stretched into days, hope began to wane. The Coast Guard's working theory, shared with Gulf Coast News, was that one of the men had fallen overboard on the return journey, perhaps while circling a final fishing spot. In a desperate act of loyalty, the other likely jumped in to save him, not realizing the boat's engine was still running. The "Unstoppable" kept moving, leaving both men stranded in open water, unable to catch up to their drifting lifeline.
Deborah Billmaier, Brandon's wife, shared her heartbreak and the couple's story in an interview with Gulf Coast News. "Our love story, it's pretty incredible we met in 2020," she recalled. "From the moment I first met him, the way he speaks, carries himself, talks about others, cares about others, it's just something indescribable." Deborah, now widowed at 31, remembered their last dinner together on a quiet Thursday evening, a simple moment that has taken on new significance. "You know, sometimes just those simple moments are the best," she said.
Deborah also described the close bond between Brandon and his uncle. "He became an attorney to follow in Uncle Randy's footsteps," she explained, noting that Brandon had moved to Florida specifically to be near his mentor and role model. The two families were inseparable, often traveling and fishing together, united by their shared love of the law and the sea. David I. Shiner, managing attorney at Shiner Law Group in Boca Raton, confirmed that Brandon was a trial attorney at his firm. "On behalf of everyone at Shiner Law Group, we are deeply saddened by the disappearance of Brandon and his uncle, Randy. Brandon is a valued member of our firm and someone we care about tremendously, both as a colleague and as our friend. Brandon is an exceptional person and a great lawyer, and we are heartbroken," Shiner said in a statement to CBS12.
For Deborah, the pain is compounded by the proximity to Christmas. The couple had just returned from their one-year anniversary trip to Paris. Now, she is preparing to spend the holidays without her husband. "I think we're really grateful. People, everyone from everywhere, praying for us, keeping them in their minds," she told Gulf Coast News, expressing appreciation for the outpouring of support from friends, colleagues, and strangers alike.
The search, described by Coast Guard commanding officer Capt. Corrie Sergent as "massive," involved countless hours and significant resources. "There is no harder decision than suspending a search. I am incredibly grateful for the crews, partners, and volunteers who participated in this massive search with dedication and compassion. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr. Spivey and Mr. Billmaier during this extremely challenging time," Sergent stated. Lt. Amy Harrison, a search and rescue mission coordinator, echoed those sentiments: "Our crews worked tirelessly with pilots, boats, and cutters, alongside many partners. We covered an extensive search area but, unfortunately, we were unable to locate the two missing men."
The Coast Guard officially halted its search at sunset on Monday, December 22, pending any new information. The FBI has since taken the lead in the missing persons investigation, urging anyone with information to contact Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 866-881-1392.
Despite the tragic outcome, Deborah finds solace in knowing that Brandon spent his last hours doing what he loved most. "He loved fishing," she said. "He lived for it, he lived for his family, for me." She also takes comfort in the knowledge that Brandon and Randy were together in their final moments, bound by the same loyalty and love that had defined their relationship for years.
The story of Brandon Billmaier and Randy Spivey Sr. is one of family bonds, shared passions, and the unpredictable dangers of the sea. Their disappearance has left a void in the lives of those who knew and loved them, but also a legacy of devotion, courage, and community support that will not soon be forgotten.
