What We Know About The University Of Alabama Student Found Dead In Barcelona

The decease of an American student whose assemblage was recovered successful nan h2o astatine a Barcelona formation days aft he was reported missing remains a enigma arsenic constabulary opportunity foul play is not believed to beryllium involved.

James Paul Gracey, a inferior astatine nan University of Alabama, was past seen early Tuesday greeting astatine Shoko, a beachfront nightclub successful Villa Olimpica, Spain. His assemblage was recovered astir 300 feet distant successful nan h2o astatine Somorrostro Beach astir 6 p.m. section clip connected Thursday, Catalan constabulary told NBC News.

Gracey, 20, was visiting friends studying overseas erstwhile he went missing, his family said. Very small accusation has been released astir his clip successful nan Spanish city.

Jimmy Gracey.Courtesy Cavin McLean

Cavin McLay, president of nan university’s Theta Chi fraternity, said he was told that Gracey was pinch a group astatine Shoko and they sewage separated, “and that was nan past clip they saw him.”

Police successful Barcelona said they received a telephone astir a imaginable disappearance of a personification who went missing astir 3 a.m. Tuesday successful nan Port Olímpic area.

According to McLay, nan group that Gracey was pinch did not person immoderate encounters that made them worried for their safety.

He said astir 10 group are successful Barcelona visiting a fewer fraternity members who are studying abroad. McLay said he is among those who traveled to Barcelona, but was not staying pinch nan aforesaid group of friends arsenic Gracey.

Local constabulary person said that Gracey's decease appears to beryllium an accident. Foul play is not believed to beryllium involved, but that has not yet been confirmed, Catalan constabulary said successful a statement.

They person not released further details, including erstwhile his assemblage will beryllium released to nan family. An autopsy will beryllium performed astatine a installation successful Barcelona, constabulary said.

Gracey’s family said they are “heartbroken” by his decease and are “struggling to travel to position pinch this unimaginable loss.”

“We are profoundly grateful for nan outpouring of love, support, and prayers from group astir nan world — truthful galore helped to stock Jimmy’s communicative and bring his life to ray truthful that others whitethorn cognize him,” nan family said successful a statement connected Facebook, referring to Gracey by his nickname “Jimmy.”

“We besides sincerely admit nan continued support and coordination of nan section authorities and nan U.S. Consulate arsenic we activity to amended understand nan circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” they said.

The family asked for privateness arsenic they “navigate this achy time.”

His sister, Mary Gracey, said she was having a difficult clip processing nan loss.

“To my beloved older brother, I can’t moreover statesman to judge what is happening and it genuinely does not consciousness anyplace adjacent to real. I really ne'er thought I would person to spell done this truthful early connected successful life and I’m not judge if I will ever afloat process what has happened,” she wrote connected Instagram.

She described her relative arsenic nan “embodiment of a existent man of God” and her “biggest domiciled model.”

Joe Gracey, his brother, said he’s going to miss “playing drawback pinch you successful nan backyard” and swimming astatine nan lake.

“I wish I could conscionable person 1 much time pinch you, 1 much call, 1 much relative to relative conversation,” he wrote successful an Instagram post. “I miss you much than anyone tin understand. I cognize you’re pinch God correct now please watch complete us. I emotion you truthful much, remainder easy.”

Another brother, Tommy Gracey, said he was astatine a nonaccomplishment for words.

“I don’t cognize what to opportunity aliases really to woody pinch this. I can’t judge it,” he wrote connected Instagram. “I’m gonna miss each nan texts and calls astir hockey, school, and life successful general. I’m not fresh to opportunity goodbye to that.”

He said his brother’s courageousness was “inspiring” and he would “do thing to person conscionable 1 much speech pinch you.”

Gracey, who was studying accounting astatine nan University of Alabama, is from nan Chicago suburb of Elmhurst. The schoolhouse said he was connected a “personal trip” erstwhile he disappeared. It said successful a connection that his decease “is profoundly felt crossed our campus.”

He graduated from Saint Ignatius College Prep of Chicago successful 2023, wherever he was a personnel of nan National Honor Society and Latin Honor Society. He was a third-generation graduate, pursuing successful nan footsteps of his mother, grandfather and great-uncles.

The schoolhouse remembered him for his “strong character” and “loyalty” and said he was “an integral personnel of some nan lacrosse and lucky programs.”