Alabama Student Found Dead in Barcelona After Days-Long Search

The body of James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student, was recovered Thursday in Barcelona, Spain, following a multi-day search, authorities confirmed. The recovery occurred at Port Olimpic, a marina near the Shoko nightclub where Gracey was last seen early Tuesday morning.

A spokesperson for Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police force, stated that the remains recovered at Port Olimpic have been identified as belonging to Gracey, a junior at the University of Alabama from Elmhurst, Illinois. Gracey had been visiting Barcelona during a spring break trip with friends.

According to his mother, Therese Gracey, he was with friends at the Shoko restaurant and nightclub but became separated from the group at the end of the night. He did not return to the Airbnb rental where he was staying with his friends.

The search operation involved helicopters, boats, and dive teams, with authorities investigating multiple possibilities, including accidental drowning. Divers reported extremely limited visibility in the water, as low as 40 centimeters (approximately 16 inches) in some areas.

Police had previously recovered Gracey’s phone during the arrest of another individual and were analyzing location data as part of their investigation, according to a family spokesperson.

“Our family is heartbroken as we confirm that Jimmy’s body has been recovered in Barcelona,” the Gracey family said in a statement. “Jimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and our family is struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.”

Authorities have not yet released information regarding the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.