Police give update on death of US college student who vanished in Barcelona

20 Mar 2026 • 9:50 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The body of James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student, was found in Barcelona after he went missing during a spring break trip.
  • Spanish regional police said on Friday that all evidence suggests Gracey's death was accidental, with an autopsy scheduled to confirm the cause.
  • Gracey, from Illinois, was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub around 3 a.m. on Tuesday and did not return to the room he was sharing with friends.
  • His body was discovered in the water off a beach near the location where he was last seen.
  • Gracey's family released a statement expressing their heartbreak, and the University of Alabama also conveyed its condolences following his death.

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