Disappearance of James Gracey
On March 17, 2026, James Paul Gracey, a 20 year old student at the University of Alabama, was reported missing in Barcelona, Spain. He was visiting friends in the city during his spring break when he disappeared after an evening out. Police suspect the disappearance is the result of foul play.[1][2][3][4]
On March 19, 2026, after a wallet was found floating in the water in the Somorrostro area of Barcelona, near the beachside club Shôko, where he was last seen, Gracey’s body was found submerged underwater, with the cause of death being investigated.[5][6]
Background
James Paul Gracey is originally from the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, Illinois and described as 6'1" and 175 pounds. He was a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep and lived with his parents and four siblings. At University of Alabama, he was a honors Accounting major and member of the Theta Chi fraternity where he was the chapters chaplain and philanthropy chairman.[7][8] Gracey was staying near the Ronda de Sant Pere through AirBnb.[9]
Disappearance
Gracey had flown to Barcelona to visit friends that were studying abroad and had arrived the morning before he went missing. He was last seen by a friend at around 3:00 local time on March 17 outside Barcelona's Shoko club near Port Olímpic and the Villa Olimpica area of Barceloneta Beach, after Gracey joined friends and had become separated from the group. Gracey was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants, and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross.[7][10] His friends later reported that they had not had any encounters that would concern them for their or his safety at the club and had hoped that he had just lost his phone and would rejoin them later.[11] Security footage shows Gracey leaving the club with an unknown individual and a witness told Catalan police that Gracey was heading towards the beach when they last saw him.[9]
References
- ^ "University of Alabama student missing in Barcelona after night out at club". NBC News. March 18, 2026.
- ^ "Family of Illinois college student James Gracey says disappearance in Barcelona is "completely out of character" - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. March 18, 2026.
- ^ Mendoza, Chris Boyette, Diego (March 18, 2026). "Family of US college student missing in Barcelona, Spain, pleads for information". CNN.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Carranco, Rebeca (March 18, 2026). "Los Mossos buscan a un estudiante de Chicago desaparecido en Barcelona". El País.
- ^ "Body of Missing American College Student Is Found in Spain, Police Say". The New York Times. March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Body of missing Alabama student Jimmy Gracey found in Barcelona, police confirm". USA Today. March 19, 2026.
- ^ a b Mosquera, Chris Boyette, Pau (2026-03-18). "Family of US college student missing in Barcelona, Spain, pleads for information". CNN. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Flosi, Nic (2026-03-19). "Jimmy Gracey: Body recovered in search for missing Chicago-area man in Barcelona, police say". FOX 32 Chicago. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ^ a b Martin, Saleen (March 19, 2026). "Where is Jimmy Gracey? Police continue search for missing student". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ^ Kaufman, Elyssa; Tenenbaum, Sara (2026-03-19). "Search for missing Illinois college student James Gracey in Barcelona partially focused on the sea - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ^ Burke, Minyvonne; Cookinham, Samantha; Vespa, Maggie (2026-03-18). "University of Alabama student missing in Barcelona after night out at club". NBC News. Retrieved 2026-03-19.