The body of missing University of Alabama student James “Jimmy” Gracey was discovered Thursday in Barcelona, Spain, following a days-long search, authorities announced.
Police found Gracey’s body at Port Olimpic, a marina near the waterfront nightclub where she was last seen.
A spokesperson for Mossos d’Esquadra confirmed that the remains discovered in Port Olimpic belonged to the 20-year-old junior, who was last seen early Tuesday morning at the waterfront Shoko nightclub.
Gracey, of Elmhurst, Illinois, went missing at 3 a.m. after visiting the Shoko restaurant and nightclub. “He was with friends, but they got separated at the end of the night,” his mother, Therese Gracey, explained. Gracey’s family reported that he never returned to the Airbnb he had booked with pals.
Divers were spotted entering the ocean with a stretcher at about 7:05 p.m. local time, returning to the dock 10 minutes later carrying a body bag.
The finding happened after a search including helicopters, boats, diving teams, and motorbike units, while investigators pursued several lines of inquiry, including the possibility that Gracey drowned.
Divers reported destitute visibility in the water, at times as low as 40 centimeters (16 inches).
According to a family representative, police recovered Gracey’s phone following another arrest and are currently evaluating location data for the inquiry. Our family is heartbroken to learn that Jimmy’s body has been retrieved in Barcelona,” the Graceys 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.”