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James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old American college student reported missing in Spain earlier this week, has been found dead, Barcelona police confirmed. Authorities indicated that “everything points to it being an accident, not a criminal act.”

Gracey, a junior from Elmhurst, Illinois, attending the University of Alabama, had traveled to Barcelona for spring break to visit friends. His body was discovered Thursday at a shallow depth on Somorrostro beach, directly in front of the Shoko nightclub near Port Olímpic, where he was last seen.

Timeline of Disappearance

Gracey arrived in Barcelona on Monday and was last seen around 3 a.m. local time Tuesday outside the Shoko club. Friends report that he became separated from the group that evening, and he did not return to his short-term rental, prompting a missing person report.

Fraternity brother Cavin McLay of Theta Chi said, “That was the last time we’ve heard from him.” Gracey was active in his chapter, serving as chaplain and philanthropy chairman, and was known for going out of his way to help others.

Search Efforts and Investigation

Spanish authorities launched an extensive search involving aquatic and underwater units near the area where Gracey was last seen. Officers also patrolled Barceloneta on motorcycles, reviewed security camera footage, and attempted to retrace his movements in the early morning hours.

Gracey’s phone, reportedly stolen, was recovered during the investigation, though the Mossos d’Esquadra police did not release further details. Shoko nightclub employees confirmed they had provided CCTV footage to investigators, though it remains unclear what the footage revealed.

Family and Community Response

Before Gracey’s body was found, his family urged the public to keep him in their thoughts. A statement read:

” Jimmy is a kind, responsible, and devoted son and brother. It is completely out of character for him not to check in with family and friends. We ask that you keep Jimmy in your thoughts as we continue to do everything we can to bring him home safely.”

His father traveled to Barcelona to assist in the search, and the University of Alabama maintained direct contact with the family to provide support.

A Promising Life Cut Short

Gracey, the eldest of five children, was described by family as responsible, devoted, and an avid hockey player who helped care for his younger siblings. At the University of Alabama, he was an honors student in the accounting program.

The discovery of his body marks a tragic end to the frantic search, highlighting the vulnerability of young travelers abroad. Authorities have emphasized that the death appears accidental, closing the case for now but leaving a community mourning a promising life lost.