DEVELOPING: Search Underway for Two Fishermen After Unmanned Boat Found 70 Miles Off Florida Coast
A search is underway for 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier, two fishermen whose boat was found running with nobody on board off the coast of Florida after their families had not heard back from them on Friday night.
The US Coast Guard crew discovered the boat at approximately 1:30 am on Saturday.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno identified the missing men on Saturday with their photos, as 57-year-old Randall Spivey, 6’1″, 245 pounds, and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier, 6’2″, 250 pounds.
“The two left early yesterday morning for a fishing trip on a 42FT Freeman (pictured) from a residence on the 15000 block of Intracoastal Ct in Fort Myers,” Marceno further revealed.
MISSING ADULTS – FORT MYERS
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in locating missing adults, 57-year-old Randall Spivey (pictured 1st) and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier (pictured 2nd) pic.twitter.com/DLVqqLinj0
— Carmine Marceno – Florida’s Law and Order Sheriff (@SheriffLeeFL) December 20, 2025
Billmaier’s wife also shared a photo of the two on Social Media.
“Air & surface crews, and partner agencies are searching for a 57-year-old male and a 33-year-old male reported overdue Fri. night,” US Coast Guard Southeast District said in a Saturday X post with a photo of the boat.
“Crews located their [vessel] 70 mi. off Fort Myers. USCG crews are leading the search.”
#Breaking @USCG air & surface crews, and partner agencies are searching for a 57-year-old male and 33-year-old male reported overdue Fri. night. Crews located their vsl. 70 mi. off Fort Myers. USCG crews are leading the search.
Have info? Call Sector #StPete @ 866-881-1392 #SAR pic.twitter.com/mdUnWgnuBB
— U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) December 20, 2025
The Coast Guard further warned boaters and aircraft pilots against operating in the search area, which “can create unsafe conditions and hinder response efforts.”
Search and Rescue operations are being conducted in the area, and “All aircraft are advised to maintain situational awareness & not interfere [with] search & rescue crews.”
#UPDATE @USCG is conducting SAR operations from the surface up to 5,ooo ft. approx. 35 statute mi. around pos. 25-36N 083-16W. All aircraft are advised to maintain situational awareness & not interfere w/ search & rescue crews. Monitor Ch 16 & report important info. to the USCG.
— U.S. Coast Guard Southeast (@USCGSoutheast) December 20, 2025
Per Fox:
Billmaier’s wife wrote in a social media post shared by Semafor White House correspondent Shelby Talcott that her husband and his uncle, Spivey, left early Friday morning and were expected to return in the afternoon.
As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, the two had not returned, and their family had not heard from them.
Billmaier’s wife said at approximately 11 p.m. the U.S. Coast Guard deployed a helicopter. At 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the family received a call that Spivey and Billmaier’s vessel was found 70 miles off the coast, but the men were not aboard.
Riley Perkofski, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. 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.”
This is a developing story.
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