The death of an American student whose body was found in the water at a Barcelona beach days after he was reported missing remains a mystery as police say foul play is not believed to be involved.
James Paul Gracey, a junior at the University of Alabama, was last seen early Tuesday morning at Shoko, a beachfront nightclub in Villa Olimpica, Spain. His body was found about 300 feet away in the water at Somorrostro Beach around 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, Catalan police told NBC News.
Gracey, 20, was visiting friends studying abroad when he went missing, his family said. Very little information has been released about his time in the Spanish city.
Cavin McLay, president of the university’s Theta Chi fraternity, said he was told that Gracey was with a group at Shoko and they got separated, “and that was the last time they saw him.”
Police in Barcelona said they received a call about a possible disappearance of a person who went missing around 3 a.m. Tuesday in the Port Olímpic area.
According to McLay, the group that Gracey was with did not have any encounters that made them worried for their safety.
He said about 10 people are in Barcelona visiting a few fraternity members who are studying abroad. McLay said he is among those who traveled to Barcelona, but was not staying with the same group of friends as Gracey.
Local police have said that Gracey’s death appears to be an accident. Foul play is not believed to be involved, but that has not yet been confirmed, Catalan police said in a statement.
They have not released further details, including when his body will be released to the family. An autopsy will be performed at a facility in Barcelona, police said.
Gracey’s family said they are “heartbroken” by his death and are “struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.”
“We are profoundly grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers from people around the world — so many helped to share Jimmy’s story and bring his life to light so that others may know him,” the family said in a statement on Facebook, referring to Gracey by his nickname “Jimmy.”
“We also sincerely appreciate the continued support and coordination of the local authorities and the U.S. Consulate as we work to better understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” they said.
The family asked for privacy as they “navigate this painful time.”
His sister, Mary Gracey, said she was having a hard time processing the loss.
“To my dear older brother, I can’t even begin to believe what is happening and it truly does not feel anywhere close to real. I really never thought I would have to go through this so early on in life and I’m not sure if I will ever fully process what has happened,” she wrote on Instagram.
She described her brother as the “embodiment of a true man of God” and her “biggest role model.”
Joe Gracey, his brother, said he’s going to miss “playing catch with you in the backyard” and swimming at the lake.
“I wish I could just have one more day with you, one more call, one more brother to brother conversation,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I miss you more than anyone can understand. I know you’re with God right now please watch over us. I love you so much, rest easy.”
Another brother, Tommy Gracey, said he was at a loss for words.
“I don’t know what to say or how to deal with this. I can’t believe it,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’m gonna miss all the texts and calls about hockey, school, and life in general. I’m not ready to say goodbye to that.”
He said his brother’s courage was “inspiring” and he would “do anything to have just one more conversation with you.”
Gracey, who was studying accounting at the University of Alabama, is from the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst. The school said he was on a “personal trip” when he disappeared. It said in a statement that his death “is deeply felt across our campus.”
He graduated from Saint Ignatius College Prep of Chicago in 2023, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and Latin Honor Society. He was a third-generation graduate, following in the footsteps of his mother, grandfather and great-uncles.
The school remembered him for his “strong character” and “loyalty” and said he was “an integral member of both the lacrosse and hockey programs.”
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