The FBI has taken over the investigation into the disappearance of two boaters who vanished off Florida’s coast this weekend.
On Monday, the Coast Guard suspended its search for Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, who took a fishing trip about 100 miles off the coast of Fort Myers. The Fort Myers News-Press reported that the 42-foot Freeman boat the pair was on was found empty with its engine running.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Fort Myers News-Press that the FBI is taking over the missing person case. An FBI spokesperson also confirmed the agency’s involvement in a statement to WFTX.
“It is standard practice for the FBI to assist our law enforcement partners if we have a tool, tactic, or technique that could benefit their investigations,” they said.
The Palm Beach Post reported that Spivey and Billmaier, who are uncle and nephew, are both attorneys.
Following the suspended search, the lawyers’ family expressed that they support the Coast Guard’s decision.
“In a private briefing with Coast Guard leadership, the family was informed that, given the enormous amount of time, resources, and strategic effort focused on the most logical search areas, there is the highest degree of confidence that if Randy and Brandon were on the surface of the water, they would have been found,” they said in a statement.
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FBI Investigating Case of 2 Lawyers Who Vanished on Boat Found Running & Empty
