The body of James Paul “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student who vanished during a night out in Barcelona, was recovered Thursday from the water off a popular beach near the nightclub where he was last seen. A team of Catalan police divers found Gracey’s remains in shallow waters at Somorrostro beach, the stretch of shoreline directly in front of the Shoko nightclub in Barcelona’s Port Olímpic district, according to PBS News.
Gracey, a junior accounting major and honors student from Elmhurst, Illinois — a suburb roughly 19 miles west of Chicago — had been missing since the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 17. He was last seen alive around 3 a.m. local time at or near the Shoko nightclub, NBC News reported. He never returned to the short-term rental he was sharing with friends.
Barcelona police stated that everything points to Gracey’s death being an accident and not a criminal act, according to CNN. However, Catalan police confirmed their investigation into the official cause of death was continuing.
The circumstances surrounding Gracey’s final hours have come into sharper focus through accounts from friends and family. Cavin McLay, president of the University of Alabama’s Theta Chi fraternity, said Gracey was with a group at the club when they became separated, and that was the last time anyone in the party saw him. About 10 people had traveled to Barcelona to visit a few fraternity members who were studying abroad, McLay said.
Gracey had left Alabama the previous Thursday and spent the weekend in Amsterdam before arriving in Barcelona on Monday, according to his aunt Beth Marren O’Reilly, as CNN reported. When he failed to return to the rental after the night out, his friends and family grew alarmed and alerted authorities.
The search effort was extensive. Catalan police activated helicopter and subaquatic search units on Wednesday, though conditions proved challenging. Divers told Fox News Digital that underwater visibility during the search was approximately 40 centimeters — roughly 16 inches. Gracey’s father flew to Barcelona to aid in the search. Police recovered Gracey’s body in the marina at Port Olímpic on Thursday. While Fox News Digital reported a recovery time of around 7:15 p.m. local time, most other sources reported the body was found around 6 p.m. local time.
In the days before the recovery, investigators found key personal belongings. Police discovered Gracey’s wallet floating in the sea near Somorrostro beach, ABC7 Chicago reported. His phone, which his mother Therese Gracey said had been stolen, was recovered during the arrest of another individual, according to a family spokesperson. Gracey was last seen wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a chain with a gold rhinestone cross.
Those who knew Gracey described a young man deeply involved in his campus community. He was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, where he served as the chapter’s chaplain and philanthropy chairman, according to McLay. The eldest of five children, Gracey was remembered as a dedicated student and a leader among his peers.
Before enrolling at Alabama, Gracey graduated in 2023 from Saint Ignatius College Prep of Chicago, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Latin Honor Society. He was reportedly a third-generation graduate of the school, following his mother, grandfather, and great-uncles. Saint Ignatius College Prep announced a memorial Mass for Gracey on Monday at 8 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Family, CBS Chicago reported.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both the University of Alabama campus and Gracey’s hometown community in the Chicago suburbs. Friends and family have rallied around the Gracey family as they navigate the painful process of bringing their son home from overseas.
While police have signaled they do not suspect foul play, the investigation remains open as authorities work to determine exactly what happened in the hours after Gracey was last seen outside the nightclub. The case stands as a stark reminder of the risks that can accompany travel abroad, even during what should be a carefree spring break.
