The desperate search for James “Jimmy” Gracey ended in tragedy Thursday when divers recovered his body from Barcelona’s Port Olímpic, just steps from the waterfront nightclub where the 20-year-old University of Alabama student was last seen alive three days earlier.
Gracey, a junior from Elmhurst, Illinois, vanished in the early morning hours of March 17, during a spring break trip to visit friends studying abroad in Spain. His body was found in the water approximately four meters deep around 6 p.m. local time by divers with the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police force. Authorities officially confirmed the remains belonged to the missing American later that evening.
Investigators say initial signs point to an accidental death, though the cause and circumstances remain under investigation. An autopsy will be performed, with initial findings expected within two to three days and a final report taking several additional weeks, according to the Catalan high court.
“Our family is heartbroken,” the Gracey family said in a statement confirming his death. They described Jimmy as a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, adding that they are struggling to come to terms with the unimaginable loss.
Gracey had left Alabama the previous Thursday, spent the weekend in Amsterdam, and arrived in Barcelona on Monday to visit fraternity brothers studying abroad. That night, he went out with friends to the popular strip of beachfront clubs in Port Olímpic. Around 3 a.m., he was last seen outside Shoko, a waterfront nightclub in the Vila Olimpica area along Barceloneta Beach. He became separated from his group and never returned to the Airbnb on Ronda de Sant Pere that he had rented with friends.
The search intensified on Wednesday when police discovered Gracey’s wallet floating in the sea near Somorrostro Beach. Maritime units and helicopters scoured the Port Olímpic area while divers worked under extremely poor visibility—roughly 16 inches in front of them, according to search team members. Police also recovered Gracey’s phone during the arrest of another individual. Authorities have not disclosed details about that arrest or whether it relates to the student’s disappearance.
Gracey’s father traveled to Barcelona to aid in the search while his mother remained home with their four other children. Jimmy was the eldest of five siblings and helped his parents care for his younger brothers and sisters, according to family members. At Alabama, he was an honors student in the accounting program.
Cavin McLay, president of Alabama’s Theta Chi fraternity and a friend who made the trip to Spain, told Fox News Digital that Gracey served as the chapter’s chaplain and philanthropy chairman. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound student was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants, and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross.
The University of Alabama released a statement expressing the campus community’s grief. The university said it has maintained close contact with the family throughout the ordeal and will continue providing support to Gracey’s friends, classmates, and the broader community. Counseling resources are available to students through UAPD and to staff via the Employee Assistance Program.
Theta Chi International Fraternity and its Alpha Phi Chapter at Alabama jointly mourned the loss. Mike Mayer, the fraternity’s chief executive officer, praised Gracey’s character and the brothers who spent days searching the streets of Barcelona for him, acknowledging the ordeal has been profoundly traumatic for the young men involved. The fraternity plans to announce ways to honor Gracey’s life and legacy in the coming days.
Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, where Gracey graduated in 2023 before attending Alabama, announced a Memorial Mass for on Monday at 8 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Family. The Mass will not be open to the public. During his four years at Saint Ignatius, Gracey was a member of the National Honor Society and Latin Honor Society, and an integral part of both the lacrosse and hockey programs.
The State Department issued a statement affirming the Trump Administration’s commitment to American citizens abroad, saying it stands ready to provide all consular assistance to Americans in need.
The Gracey family expressed gratitude for the global support they received during the search and thanked local authorities and the U.S. Consulate for their coordination. They asked for privacy as they grieve and work to better understand the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact authorities at (224) 505-3886.
