James Gracey, US college student missing in Spain, is found dead, police say

Barcelona, Spain (CNN) — James “Jimmy” Gracey, an American college student reported missing in Spain earlier this week, has been found dead, a spokesperson for the Barcelona police told CNN.

“Everything points to it being an accident, not a criminal act,” the spokesperson said.

The 20-year-old junior of Elmhurst, Illinois, was reported missing after he went to a nightclub in Barcelona, Spain, and failed to return to his short-term rental, his family said.

His body was found Thursday in shallow waters at Somorrostro beach, a stretch of beach in front of the Shoko club, where police had been searching for Gracey, according to Barcelona police.
site-logo
Action News Now Exclusives Straight From The Source Unsolved Mystery Wellness Wednesday
James Gracey, US college student missing in Spain, is found dead, police say
By Chris Boyette, Pau Mosquera Mar 18, 2026 Updated 4 hrs
Barcelona, Spain (CNN) — James “Jimmy” Gracey, an American college student reported missing in Spain earlier this week, has been found dead, a spokesperson for the Barcelona police told CNN.

“Everything points to it being an accident, not a criminal act,” the spokesperson said.

The 20-year-old junior of Elmhurst, Illinois, was reported missing after he went to a nightclub in Barcelona, Spain, and failed to return to his short-term rental, his family said.

His body was found Thursday in shallow waters at Somorrostro beach, a stretch of beach in front of the Shoko club, where police had been searching for Gracey, according to Barcelona police.

The area was cordoned off with multiple law enforcement vehicles, and forensic teams remained at the scene after the body was found.

Gracey, a student at the University of Alabama, had just arrived to the city Monday to visit friends for spring break and planned to return to the United States this weekend when he went missing, relatives said. He was last seen by a friend around 3 a.m. local time Tuesday at Barcelona’s Shoko club near Port Olímpic, relatives said in a statement.

Gracey had been out with friends that evening but had become separated from the group, and “that was the last time we’ve heard from him,” his fraternity brother, Cavin McLay, told CNN affiliate WBMA.

He was reported missing after he failed to return that morning to his short-term rental, his family said.