The U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday evening that it suspended its search for two missing men at sunset, pending the development of new information.The Coast Guard was searching for 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsThe Coast Guard said it, and partner agencies searched 6,700 miles, about the size of the state of Connecticut.During the search, units had to navigate 10-mph winds and 3-foot seas.“The Coast Guard diligently searched with our pilots, boat forces, cutter crews, and numerous partners,” said Lt. Amy Harrison, a search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “We saturated an incredibly large search area but, unfortunately, were unable to locate the two missing men.”According to the Coast Guard, a loved one reported to a Coast Guard Sector in St. Petersburg at 8 p.m. Dec. 19 that the men were overdue.The two men went on a fishing trip 100 miles offshore and were due to return at sunset.A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater helicopter found the vessel adrift, still in gear, about 70 miles west of Fort Myers at 12 a.m. Dec. 20.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.The boat was brought back to Station Fort Myers Beach for investigation.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Monday evening that it suspended its search for two missing men at sunset, pending the development of new information.
The Coast Guard was searching for 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier.
Submitted Photo
57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
The Coast Guard said it, and partner agencies searched 6,700 miles, about the size of the state of Connecticut.
During the search, units had to navigate 10-mph winds and 3-foot seas.
“The Coast Guard diligently searched with our pilots, boat forces, cutter crews, and numerous partners,” said Lt. Amy Harrison, a search and rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “We saturated an incredibly large search area but, unfortunately, were unable to locate the two missing men.”
According to the Coast Guard, a loved one reported to a Coast Guard Sector in St. Petersburg at 8 p.m. Dec. 19 that the men were overdue.
The two men went on a fishing trip 100 miles offshore and were due to return at sunset.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater helicopter found the vessel adrift, still in gear, about 70 miles west of Fort Myers at 12 a.m. Dec. 20.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
The boat was brought back to Station Fort Myers Beach for investigation.