Barcelona police find body of missing University of Alabama student James Gracey

Catalan police confirmed the discovery of James "Jimmy" Gracey's body in the waters off Somorrostro beach in Barcelona on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

The body was found near the Shoko nightclub where Gracey was last seen around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

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Police divers recovered the remains at approximately 7:15 p.m. local time in the Port Olímpic marina area, between a sailboat and a floating blue dock.

Authorities worked to formally identify the remains before confirming they belonged to the 20-year-old student from Elmhurst, Illinois.

The discovery came after an extensive search operation involving multiple police units, including aquatic and underwater teams, helicopter surveillance, and ground patrols working along the Barcelona coastline where Gracey had vanished.

James Gracey, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Alabama from the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, traveled to Barcelona during spring break to visit fraternity brothers studying abroad.

The accounting student was described by family and friends as having "strong character, loyalty, and for showing up for his teammates and friends."

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He was known as an honor student, fraternity chaplain, devoted son, and older brother to four younger siblings.

Gracey was last seen leaving the Shoko nightclub around 3 a.m. on March 17 after becoming separated from his friends during a night out.

According to surveillance footage, Gracey was seen leaving the establishment with an unidentified person, wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross.

His disappearance was reported after he failed to return to the Airbnb where he had been staying with friends.

The search operation for Gracey began immediately after his disappearance was reported around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17.

Catalan police, known as Mossos d'Esquadra, launched an extensive search effort involving multiple specialized units.

By Wednesday, police had deployed their helicopter, maritime units, and underwater teams to comb the Port Olímpic coastline.

Police also recovered Gracey's wallet floating near Somorrostro Beach, which intensified the search in that area.

On Thursday, the search escalated with the activation of the Aquatic and Underwater Units and Drone Unit as authorities focused on the hypothesis that Gracey may have fallen into the sea.

The search effort included reviewing security camera footage from the Shoko nightclub, nearby businesses, and police street cameras to reconstruct Gracey's movements after he left the club.

Gracey's family, who had traveled to Spain to assist in the search, expressed both gratitude for public support and a desire for privacy during their "incredibly difficult time."

Family members described Gracey's disappearance as "completely out of character" for the responsible young man who was known for maintaining regular contact with loved ones.

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His aunt, Beth O'Reilly, emphasized that it was "very out of character" for her nephew to lose contact, while his fraternity brother Cavin McLay noted that Jimmy "is a great guy" who "serves as a mentor to a lot of the youth guys in our chapter."

The University of Alabama released statements offering support to the family, and the U.S. State Department indicated it was "ready to provide all consular assistance to Americans in need abroad."

The family issued a formal statement asking for prayers and privacy while they focused on "being together and caring for one another" during this tragic time.

While Catalan police initially indicated that "everything points to it being an accident, not a criminal act," the investigation continues with several unresolved questions.

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Police have confirmed they recovered Gracey's phone shortly after his disappearance, though details about how the phone came into their possession varied across sources.

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Some reports mentioned an arrest was made related to the phone for extortion purposes.

Investigators are working to identify the mystery person seen with Gracey on surveillance footage leaving the nightclub, though no persons of interest have been publicly identified.

The search for Gracey's body focused on the area near Somorrostro Beach where the body was ultimately found at approximately four meters depth.

Barcelona police continue to investigate the cause of death while family members and authorities await official findings that could provide closure to this tragic international incident that gained both national and international attention.