(This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available)
The U.S. Coast Guard and a fleet of private vessels are searching for a Fort Myers attorney and a family member who went missing Dec. 19 after a fishing trip off the coast of Naples.
Attorney Randall Spivey, 57, and his 33-year-old nephew Brandon Billmaier were reported missing at about 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, said Luis Garcia, supervisor on watch for the Coast Guard sector in St. Petersburg. The boat had been scheduled to return at about sunset Friday.
Now a massive effort is underway to find the missing fishermen, said Randall Spivey’s wife, Tricia Spivey. Her voice choked with emotion as she described how people have answered the call to help.
“We have so many in the community coming together,” she said. “Hundreds. We have planes, we have boats, we have people coordinating.
“The community is doing everything they can to bring him home, and I’m just praying.”
Tricia Spivey reported her husband and nephew missing Friday night, Garcia said. “They were going to fish about 102 miles offshore.”
GPS coordinates point to Marco Island, Flamingo for search
The pair went out in a 42-foot Freeman boat named “Unstopp-A-Bull,” Garcia said. The Coast Guard later found the boat floating upright in the Gulf about 70 miles off the coast of Naples, but no signs of the missing boaters.
Tricia Spivey says GPS coordinates from the boat’s spot tracker led them to that location near Marco Island and Flamingo. That’s where the search has been concentrated.
“They know the exact path of the boat,” she said. “We have coordinates of where the boat is and we also have coordinates of where it veered off course when it was coming home last night.”
The Coast Guard searched Friday night with a helicopter and later a fixed-wing aircraft, Garcia says. And they’re continuing the search today, along with private aircraft and boats in the Gulf.
“There will probably be private craft, private aircrafts and marine units searching the area as well,” Garcia said.
‘That’s their love. They love fishing.’
Tricia Spivey said her husband, a prominent Fort Myers attorney, is well-regarded and well-liked.
“He’s an amazing, amazing man,” she said, “and he’s dedicated his life to helping other people as an attorney and helping them in their time of need. And that’s why it’s so touching that many people are now stepping up to find him.”
He and his nephew are avid fishermen, she said.
“That’s their love,” she said. “My husband’s been fishing for over 30 years. They love fishing. He’s the most safety-prone person.”
Call to action: Boaters needed to search for Spivey and Billmaier off Marco Island coast
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding Spivey and Billmaier.
“Spivey is a white male, 6’1”, 245lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes,” the sheriff’s office posted Saturday on Facebook. “He was last seen wearing khaki pants and a dark in color shirt. … Billmaier is a white male, 6’2”, 250lbs, with strawberry hair and brown eyes.”
Erin Shaw Harrel of Facebook group SWFL Boaters urged people Saturday to take to the water to search for the missing boaters.
“We need everyone that can get out on the water today or in the air!” Harrel wrote. “Please contact the coast guard if you can help or post below and we will coordinate!!!! Please pray for our member and their families during this time!!!”
Brent Stokes, owner of Stokes Marine, also asked for volunteers to help search.
“Volunteers needed for searching for missing boaters in the gulf,” he wrote. “Call to action for any pilots available to search approximately 70 miles offshore in the gulf for 2 missing boaters. Family of missing is willing to cover fuel cost.”
If anyone knows about the pair’s whereabouts, they can call 911, if applicable, or call the sheriff’s office at 477-1000. To remain anonymous, you can also call SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
According to Stokes, anyone willing to help with the search can call the U.S. Coast Guard at 727-322-4180.
Harrel of Facebook SWFL Boaters provided these coordinates for the search: 25-51.67N 083-12.16W
Charles Runnells covers arts and entertainment for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@usatodayco.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells)
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers attorney missing after fishing trip, search underway in Gulf
Reporting by Charles Runnells, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
