CLEARWATER – The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to suspend its search for two missing boaters at sunset Monday, pending the development of new information.
Missing are 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier.
Coast Guard and partner agency crews conducted air and sea searches covering approximately 6,700 square miles. On-scene weather conditions during the search included winds of about 10 mph and seas of approximately 3 feet.
“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.”
“After careful review of all factors involved in this case, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend its active search efforts,” said Capt. Corrie Sergent, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “There is no harder decision than suspending a search. We are grateful to the crews, partners, and volunteers who conducted this extensive operation.”
A loved one reported the men overdue at approximately 9 p.m. Friday, stating the two boaters had departed on a fishing trip about 100 miles offshore and were due to return by sunset. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders coordinated the launch of rescue crews to the boaters’ last known position.
A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater helicopter crew located the vessel adrift and still in gear roughly 70 miles west of Fort Myers at approximately 12 a.m. Saturday. A rescue swimmer was lowered to stop the engines and anchor the vessel. Later that day, the boat was transported to Station Fort Myers Beach for further investigation.
The FBI is leading the missing persons investigation.
Agencies involved in the search included Coast Guard Air Stations Clearwater, Miami, and Elizabeth City; Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach; Coast Guard Cutter Crocodile; Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg and Southeast District watchstanders; the 920th Rescue Wing; Florida State Guard; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Lee County Sheriff’s Office; and Collier County Fire Department. Volunteers and private boaters also assisted.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the missing boaters is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center at 866-881-1392.