The frantic search for an uncle and his nephew who vanished while fishing off the coastof Florida continued Monday — as one of the missing boater’s heartbroken wives begged for help finding them.
Randall Spivey, 57, and Brandon Billmaier, 33, were reported missing after they failed to return from a fishing trip near Fort Meyers on Friday, authorities said.
The US Coast Guard later discovered their empty boat, which still had the engine running, some 70 miles from the shore.
Billmaier’s wife, Deborah Billmaier, flooded social media with updates and pleas over the weekend — and has called for anyone with a boat to help trawl the waters as the search continued Monday.
“Thank you to all the local heroes who are working to bring my husband Brandon and uncle Randy home, she said in an Instagram post.
“We cannot thank you enough, and are eternally grateful. They have yet not been found, but we are staying positive and know they will come home, please continue to pray for us.”
“We are asking for vessels capable of a 225-mile range to assist in a major offshore search,” she added.
The Coast Guard, however, warned that uncoordinated crews could potentially “create unsafe conditions and hinder response efforts.”
The saga unfolded after the duo set off first thing Friday morning but failed to return, as expected, by afternoon.
“I am heartbroken posting this. My husband, Brandon, went out fishing yesterday with his uncle off the coast of Fort Myers,” Billmaier’s wife wrote in an initial Instagram post.
“They left early in the morning on Friday, Dec. 19 and were meant to come back that afternoon. At 7:30 we had not heard back from them, and we contacted the US Coast Guard.”
She noted the search crews discovered the empty vessel at roughly 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.
“As the sun rises we are looking for additional help in the search efforts. If you or someone you know can help please reach out to us,” she added.
“If you cannot, please keep them in your prayers as we continue to have faith that we will find them.”
Billmaier’s spouse noted there would be a monetary reward for those who help locate the fishermen.
Further details on the reward weren’t immediately available.
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