Spanish authorities have confirmed that the body they found on Thursday, March 19, does in fact belong to University of Alabama student James “Jimmy” Gracey.
The remains were discovered in the Somorrostro section of Barcelona, where Gracey had disappeared the morning of Tuesday, March 17, following a night out with friends who are studying abroad.
Gracey’s body was found not far from the popular beachside club where the 20-year-old was captured by surveillance cameras as left with an unknown individual.
At this point, investigators are handling Gracey’s death as an accident, and said there is nothing to suggest foul play in this case.
Gracey was last seen on March 17 at around 3 a.m. outside Shôko nightclub in the Port Olímpic area.
Gracey, who was known as Jimmy to friends and family, was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants, and a gold chain with a rhinestone-encrusted cross.
As friends were ready to go home, Gracey reportedly stayed behind at the club.
The Illinois native never made it back to his Airbnb, according to his mother, Therese Marren Gracey, who shared a Facebook post on Tuesday, March 17, about her missing son.
“My son is a university of Alabama student who is visiting friends in Barcelona who are studying abroad,” reads the missing man’s mother’s post, which was shared to a Students in Barcelona 2026 Facebook group. “They went to Shoko last night. … But he didn’t make it back to the air bnb. Has anyone seen him?”
Police have not said when Gracey first arrived in Barcelona, but relatives had noted he was due to return to the states on Saturday, March 21.
Gracey’s father had flown over to Spain on Wednesday, March 18, to assist police in any way he could.
It was unclear what method the police employed to confirm the body was Gracey’s.
There have been questions surrounding the location of Gracey’s phone, after Therese initially announced that police had found it soon after he vanished. However, investigators said they couldn’t confirm either way if they had the device in their possession.
A University of Alabama spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Gracey’s death.
Gracey had announced back in the fall that he had been elected to serve as the chaplain of the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Theta Chi fraternity.
Gracey was the nephew of CNN senior producer David Gracey, according to CNN and statements his family have made.
Funeral arrangements for Gracey had not been announced by press time.
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