Body of Missing Alabama Student James "Jimmy" Gracey Found Off Barcelona Beach, Police Probe Cause of Death
Spanish police say the body of 20-year-old University of Alabama student James "Jimmy" Gracey, from Elmhurst, Illinois, was found Thursday evening by divers in the water off a Barcelona beach near the Shoko nightclub, where he was last seen early Tuesday during a spring-break trip. Authorities have positively identified the body, recovered his phone soon after he went missing, and say the cause of death is still under investigation while the university and Gracey's family have issued statements offering support.
📌 Key Facts
- Catalan police have identified the body recovered from the water off a Barcelona beach as University of Alabama student James "Jimmy" Gracey.
- Police say the body was found Thursday evening by a team of divers near where Gracey was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub early Tuesday.
- Catalan authorities are investigating the cause of death and have not released further conclusions.
- Gracey was 20 years old and from Elmhurst, Illinois.
- He was on a spring-break trip visiting friends in Barcelona and had just returned from a weekend in Amsterdam after leaving Alabama on Thursday.
- Gracey's phone was recovered soon after he went missing, which first alerted his family.
- The University of Alabama said it is keeping Gracey and his family in its thoughts and is in direct communication to offer support.
- The family issued a written statement and relatives described him as an honors student and fraternity chaplain.
📊 Relevant Data
In Catalonia from 2019-2022, 40% of unintentional drownings involved non-Spanish nationals, compared to 60% Spanish nationals, despite foreigners comprising a smaller proportion of the resident population.
Drowning mortality in Catalonia (2019-2022) — PMC - NIH
Alcohol consumption was involved in 30% of drowning cases in Spain in 2025, particularly among men aged 45-74, but also noted in younger victims.
284 deaths from drowning in Spain in 2025: rivers and swimming pools, alert scenario — Fraternidad
In Spain from 2013-2025, 60.17% of drowning incidents among older adults (65+) occurred in unsupervised areas, with higher fatality rates in such locations like rivers (84.75%) compared to supervised beaches (63.38%).
Drowning Incidents Among Older Adults in Spain (2013-2025) — Iris Publishers
Barcelona's tourist arrivals increased significantly from 2020 to 2026, with over 12 million visitors in 2024, contributing to overtourism pressures including higher petty crime rates in tourist areas like beaches and nightclubs.
Tourism In Barcelona Statistics 2024: Your In-Depth Travel Guide — GoWithGuide
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms Gracey was 20 years old, from Elmhurst, Illinois, about 19 miles west of Chicago.
- Clarifies that Gracey was visiting friends in Barcelona for spring break and had just come from a weekend in Amsterdam after leaving Alabama on Thursday.
- Adds detailed family reaction, including a written statement from the Gracey family and an interview with his aunt describing him as an honors student and fraternity chaplain.
- Reiterates that Catalan police recovered and positively identified the body near where he was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub early Tuesday.
- CBS segment reiterates that Spanish police have confirmed the recovered body is that of University of Alabama student James "Jimmy" Gracey.
- It reaffirms that the discovery followed his disappearance during a spring-break trip to Barcelona.
- The piece emphasizes that Spanish authorities continue to investigate the cause of death.
- CBS reiterates that Spanish police have identified the body recovered from the water as that of missing University of Alabama student James "Jimmy" Gracey.
- The segment emphasizes that Gracey disappeared after visiting a club near the beach while on a spring break trip.
- No additional details are provided on cause of death, investigative leads, or condition of the body beyond prior reporting.
- Police say Gracey’s body was found Thursday evening in the water off a Barcelona beach by a team of divers, near where he was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub early Tuesday.
- Catalan police emphasize that their investigation into the cause of death is ongoing and have not released further conclusions.
- The University of Alabama issued a statement saying it is keeping Gracey and his family "at the forefront" of its thoughts and is in direct communication with them to offer support.
- The article reiterates that police recovered Gracey’s phone soon after he went missing, which is what first alerted his family that something was wrong.