Catalonia's regional police say Gracey's body found in Barcelona, death likely an accident.

James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student from Illinois, was found dead in Barcelona after going missing during a spring break trip to visit friends studying abroad.

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The University of Alabama junior was last seen around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, outside the popular Shoko beachfront nightclub in Barcelona's Port Olímpic area, where he had been partying with friends during a night out.

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Gracey, described by family as a "deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend," had traveled from Alabama to Amsterdam before arriving in Barcelona on Monday for his spring break vacation.

His disappearance sparked an international search effort involving Catalan police, who recovered his body from the water off a Barcelona beach two days later.

The search for Gracey intensified after he failed to return to his Airbnb accommodation on Ronda de Sant Pere, where he was staying with friends who had gone to bed.

Friends reported him missing when they awoke the following morning, prompting Catalan police (Mossos d'Esquadra) to launch an investigation.

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Authorities recovered Gracey's phone soon after his disappearance, with reports indicating it was found in possession of a petty thief who claimed to have discovered it by accident.

Surveillance footage from the Shoko nightclub revealed that Gracey left the establishment with an unidentified person, though police have not confirmed the identity of this individual or whether their involvement was connected to his death.

The search operation involved police officers, divers, drones, a helicopter, and specialist maritime units as authorities scoured the waters near the nightclub.

Catalan authorities recovered Gracey's body on Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2026, from the waters off Somorrostro beach near the Port Olímpic marina, just 500 feet from where he was last seen.

“Associated Press writers Suman Naishadham in Madrid and Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain, contributed to this report”

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Police divers found the body at a depth of approximately four meters (13 feet) after an intensive search operation that had been expanded the previous day following the discovery of his wallet floating in the sea.

A spokesperson for Catalonia's regional police told the Associated Press that "all signs point" to Gracey's death being accidental, though an autopsy was scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

The spokesperson stated that "everything points to an accidental death" while noting that the investigation was ongoing.

Spanish officials identified the body as Gracey's just before 8:45 p.m. local time on Thursday.

Gracey's family expressed profound grief in a statement following the confirmation of his death, describing themselves as "heartbroken" and struggling to "come to terms with this unimaginable loss."

The family, which lives in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, thanked the public for "the kindness and concern that has been shown for our family during this incredibly difficult time" and requested privacy during their mourning period.

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Gracey's mother, Therese Gracey, had initially posted about her son's disappearance in a Barcelona expat Facebook group, while his father, Taras Gracey, traveled to Spain to participate in the search efforts.

The University of Alabama also issued a statement expressing that the campus community was "heartbroken" and that "Jimmy's loss is deeply felt across our campus," with condolences extended to the Gracey family.

Gracey was an active member of the University of Alabama's Theta Chi fraternity, serving as both chaplain and philanthropy chairman of the Alpha Phi Chapter.

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The fraternity issued multiple statements expressing their devastation, with CEO Michael J. Mayer describing Gracey as "a young man of deep faith" with "genuine care for others" and chapter president Cavin McLay noting that "Jimmy always went out of his way for anyone who needed him."

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The fraternity emphasized that Gracey's brothers in Barcelona had searched tirelessly for him during the disappearance and requested privacy for the members to process their grief.

Meanwhile, Barcelona authorities noted that the city is generally safe for tourists, with pickpocketing being the main concern rather than serious crime.

The area where Gracey went out is a popular stretch of beach with restaurants and nightclubs frequented by both locals and tourists, particularly during spring break season.