Body of American student who went missing in Barcelona has been found, police say

The beach where the body was found is near where James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old college student from suburban Elmhurst, was last seen in Barcelona earlier this week.

Police in Spain have found the body of James “Jimmy” Gracey, a college student from Illinois who went missing while visiting friends during spring break.

Gracey's body was found by police divers in the water off a Barcelona beach and positively identified, Catalonia’s regional police said.

Catalan police said an investigation continues into the cause of death.

The beach where the body was found is near where Gracey, who is from suburban Elmhurst, was last seen in Barcelona earlier this week.

Gracey, a junior at the University of Alabama, traveled to Spain over spring break to visit friends who were studying abroad, according to a statement from Gracey's family. He was last seen by friends at about 3 a.m. Tuesday at Shôko, a beachfront nightclub in Barcelona.

Gracey never returned to the room he was renting with friends. They realized something was wrong when police contacted them, saying they had recovered his phone.

His family did not comment on the latest update, but told NBC Chicago Thursday afternoon that they were pausing interviews "to focus on being together and caring for one another."

"We are so grateful for the kindness and concern that has been shown for our family during this incredibly difficult time," the statement read.

Gravey's aunt, Beth Marren O'Reilly, told The Associated Press in an interview before his body was found that her nephew left Alabama on Thursday and spent the weekend in Amsterdam before arriving Monday in Barcelona. Gracey's family did not immediately know how police came into possession of his phone. Gracey's father, Taras, is in Barcelona and has been working with police, O'Reilly said.

Earlier this week, Gracey's mother pleaded for help in a social media post shared to a Students in Barcelona 2026 Facebook group.

"My son is a university of Alabama student who is visiting friends in Barcelona who are studying abroad," she wrote. "They went to Shoko last night. The police have his phone but he didn’t make it back to the air bnb. Has anyone see him?"

The University of Alabama said in a statement that the school community “is heartbroken to learn of the death of Jimmy Gracey. Jimmy’s loss is deeply felt across our campus. Our condolences are with the Gracey family during this devastating time.”

Gracey was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity at the school, and the international organization said that in addition to serving as chaplain for the school's chapter, he was a philanthropy chairperson.

Check back for more on this developing story.