Brandon Billmaier (left), Randy Spivey and Randall Spivey (right) with a large red snapper catch in the Gulf. The group regularly went deep sea fishing in the Gulf. Photo provided courtesy of Randy Spivey<\/p>\n
The search for missing Fort Myers boater Randall Spivey and his nephew Brandon Billmaier was called off by the U.S. Coast Guard after sunset last Monday Dec. 22, three days after the search started.<\/p>\n
The two had been missing since Friday when they left Fort Myers to go on a deep-water fishing trip. The avid fishermen had left Fort Myers at 5 a.m. and were expected to return by sunset.<\/p>\n
At 9 p.m., the Coast Guard was notified and began a search, locating their boat at midnight approximately 70 miles off shore. The boat was in gear and moving, requiring a Coast Guard swimmer to board the vessel and turn off the engine.<\/p>\n
The Coast Guard used boats and planes to search for the two. In addition, family and friends of Spivey and Billmaier organized search party teams to search for them by boat and by air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The boat was returned to the U.S. Coast Guard station in Fort Myers Beach to be inspected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boat doesn\u2019t appear to have any damage,\u201d family friend Paul Rocuant, also an attorney, said.<\/p>\n
Fishing equipment was still on the boat and fish had already been caught.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rods were not in the water. It may have been a medical emergency or an accident with one person going into the water unexpectedly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Spivey was the founder of Spivey Law Firm, a personal injury practice in Fort Myers. Billmaier worked for Shiner Law Firm in Boca Raton, and was a resident of Weston.<\/p>\n
The families of the two issued a joint statement through Rocuant on the decision by the U.S. Coast Guard to suspend the search. They said they understood and agreed with the decision after being briefed by Coast Guard leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe search effort has covered an area larger than the entire state of Connecticut,\u201d the family said. \u201cIf Randy and Brandon were on the surface of the water, they would have been found,\u201d adding that was based on the amount of resources used and the area covered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith that understanding, the Coast Guard has advised the family that as of sundown (Monday), the active search must be suspended. While this is heartbreaking, the family is certain this is the correct decision and holds the deepest respect, gratitude, and acceptance for it,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cRandy was an attorney helping those who were injured, for over 30 years. Likewise, following in his uncle\u2019s footsteps, Brandon was also an attorney advocating for those who were injured as well. Few people were more concerned about the safety of innocent people than Randy and Brandon. We know, without question, that they would reach the same conclusion as the experts: that everything possible has been done. They would ask that this decision be respected and that the bravery and heroism of those who searched -those in the air and on the water doing the real, dangerous work \u2014 be honored.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is incredibly difficult for the family and for everyone hoping for a different outcome. We respectfully ask that the decision to suspend the search be honored, both from a professional agency standpoint and from a volunteer standpoint. The search area, which is now more than 100 miles offshore, continues to move west and farther from shore, creating increasing risk, and it is no longer safe to ask volunteers to put themselves in serious danger.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who know Randy and Brandon, there is no doubt this is exactly how they would feel. The family asks for your compassion, understanding, and support during this unimaginably difficult time. We love you all,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
Rocuant, who was involved with organizing volunteer search teams by boat, said about two dozen boats were used by volunteers to search for Billmaier and Spivey. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are grateful for their help,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Rocuant said the Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force used the most advanced technologies available to them including thermal imaging.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were with the Coast Guard for an hour where they gave a very detailed presentation of how they have used overwhelming search and rescue,\u201d Rocuant said. He said the family was \u201cvery, very unified in respecting the efforts that have been made and we think we are going to be putting people in danger if we continue (with the search).\u201d<\/p>\n
Rocuant said the farther away from shore the search grew, the more dangerous it became. Boaters were traveling into the night to get back after exhaustive searches.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Coast Guard did a search that was bigger than the state of Connecticut. They mapped out every single sortie that was aerially done, that was done by boat,\u201d Rocuant said.<\/p>\n
He added the entire search area was covered multiple times by boats and sophisticated aircraft.<\/p>\n
Spivey had been his best friend for the last 30 years since they were starting out locally as attorneys, Rocuant said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s heart-wrenching. The more important thing would be to make sure that nobody else gets hurt doing this (searching for the missing boaters), he said.<\/p>\n
Spivey was \u201ca man of complete integrity,\u201d Rocuant said. \u201cHe was somebody who would always do the right thing even if no one was looking. He was extremely generous and humble. If somebody needed help, he would be the first one to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rocuant said that\u2019s why he is not surprised so many had rushed to help in the search. <\/p>\n
\u201cI looked up to him,\u201d he said. \u201cHe was very dependable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spivey has a wife, son and daughter. He also has two sisters. Billmaier was just married in the last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe (Spivey) was an outdoorsman. He loved animals. His whole family loves animals,\u201d Rocuant said. Spivey was a supporter of the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife.<\/p>\n
Spivey, as a personal injury lawyer \u201cwas very safety conscious,\u201d Rocuant said. An avid fisherman, he and his son Randy had been on many fishing trips together, along with Billmaier.<\/p>\n
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Coast Guard announcing the suspension of the search, Coast Guard crews covered approximately 6,700 square miles. The weather conditions included 10 mph winds and 3-foot seas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Coast Guard diligently searched with our pilots, boat forces, cutter crews, and numerous partners,\u201d said Lt. Amy Harrison, a search-and-rescue mission coordinator for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. \u201cWe saturated an incredibly large search area but, unfortunately, were unable to locate the two missing men.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spivey\u2019s son Randy was helping to organize search rescue teams of volunteers over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Randy Spivey said the family was\u00a0\u201cbeyond grateful for every person who has stepped up, shared, searched, and prayed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking before the search was called off, Spivey said his dad was an experienced boater who regularly went deep water fishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad is a highly, highly experienced boater,\u201d Spivey said. He said his dad has been boating \u201chis entire life\u201d and that he and Brandon have been doing offshore fishing with him often since they were kids. \u201cThey are two of the kindest, most selfless people I know. They are my role models,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n