Search for lawyer, nephew expands in Florida after boat found empty Christopher Cann, Ashley Ferrer, Hana Khalyleh and Charles Runnells, USA TODAY NETWORKDecember 22, 2025 at 4:34 AM 0 FORT MYERS, FL – Authorities on Monday, Dec. 22, were set to return to the waters off the coast of Naples, Florida, and resume an expansive search effort for an attorney and his nephew three days after the pair went missing. The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the search for Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33. The intensive effort began after the two men were reported missing on Friday, Dec. 19.
- - Search for lawyer, nephew expands in Florida after boat found empty
Christopher Cann, Ashley Ferrer, Hana Khalyleh and Charles Runnells, USA TODAY NETWORKDecember 22, 2025 at 4:34 AM
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FORT MYERS, FL – Authorities on Monday, Dec. 22, were set to return to the waters off the coast of Naples, Florida, and resume an expansive search effort for an attorney and his nephew three days after the pair went missing.
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the search for Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33. The intensive effort began after the two men were reported missing on Friday, Dec. 19. The boat they'd been using for a fishing trip was scheduled to return at about sunset.
Over the weekend, members of the Coast Guard found their boat floating empty in the Gulf, about 70 miles off the coast of Naples, with no sign of the missing boaters. Officials said the pair had planned to fish about 102 miles offshore.
The Coast Guard found a 42-foot Freeman boat, named "Unstopp-A-Bull," floating upright in the Gulf , but no signs of the missing boaters, attorney Randall Spivey, 57, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier.
The Coast Guard said the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon was on the boat when they discovered it empty and couldn't help them find the missing men. Not located on the boat were a couple of life jackets, officials said, indicating that Spivey and Billmaier may be wearing them.
Authorities have surged resources to the area to find the two men, including vessels and helicopters from multiple Coast Guard air stations. A host of volunteers have joined the search effort, using their own boats to look for the missing men.
Brandon Billmaier's wife, Deborah, and other family members of the missing men urged boaters to help with the search, posting coordinates where authorities are concentrated.
"We are asking for vessels capable of a 225-mile range to assist in a major offshore search," Deborah Billmaier said in a Facebook post on Dec. 21.
"Thank you to all the local heroes who are working to bring my husband Brandon and uncle Randy home," she added. "They have yet not been found, but we are staying positive and know they will come home, please continue to pray for us."
Contributing: Cindy McCurry-Ross
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing lawyer, nephew sought in Florida after boat found empty
Source: "AOL Breaking"
Source: Breaking
Published: December 22, 2025 at 02:55PM on Source: ANDY MAG
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