The search for James “Jimmy” Gracey, a University of Alabama student who went missing, ended in tragedy as his body was discovered in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday, according to authorities.
Gracey’s body was found at Port Olimpic, a marina close to the nightclub where he was last seen alive.
Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalonia police force, confirmed that the body recovered from Port Olimpic belonged to the 20-year-old student. Gracey vanished after being seen at the Shoko nightclub in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The Elmhurst, Illinois native disappeared around 3 a.m. following his visit to Shoko, a popular restaurant and nightclub.
A missing person notice had circulated featuring Gracey’s image. Sadly, the search concluded with the discovery of his body in Spain.
“He was out with friends, but they lost track of each other toward the night’s end,” explained his mother, Therese Gracey. The family noted that Jimmy never returned to the Airbnb he shared with friends.
Divers were seen entering the water with a stretcher at around 7:05 p.m. local time and returned to the dock with a body bag 10 minutes later.
A Catalan police diver from the Mossos d’Esquadra searches the shoreline and Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (James Breeden for Fox News Digital)
The discovery came after a search that included helicopters, boats, dive teams and motorcycle units, as authorities pursued multiple lines of investigation, including the possibility that Gracey may have drowned.
Divers said visibility in the water was extremely limited, at times only about 40 centimeters or roughly 16 inches.
Police had also recovered Gracey’s phone during the arrest of another individual, according to a family spokesperson, and were reviewing location data as part of the investigation.
Jimmy Gracey was found dead in Spain after a days-long search. (James Breeden for Fox News Digital)
“Our family is heartbroken as we confirm that Jimmy’s body has been recovered in Barcelona,” the Gracey family said. “Jimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and our family is struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.”
Authorities have not yet provided information on Jimmy Gracey’s cause of death.
