Missing Student in Spain: Search for Jimmy Gracey Intensifies

Thu Mar 19 2026 21:35:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities in Barcelona are ramping up efforts to find 20-year-old James 'Jimmy' Gracey, a University of Alabama student, who went missing during a night out with friends.

James 'Jimmy' Gracey, a 20-year-old student from Illinois, has gone missing in Barcelona after a night out at a nightclub. He was last seen around 3 a.m. on Tuesday and has not returned to his rented accommodation. Local police are conducting extensive searches, including air and underwater patrols, as his family and friends raise awareness through missing person signs. The University of Alabama is in close contact with Gracey's family and has appealed for any information that could help locate him.

Authorities in Spain have launched a search for 20-year-old James 'Jimmy' Gracey, a University of Alabama student reported missing after a night out in Barcelona. Gracey was last seen around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, having separated from friends at the Shoko nightclub near Barceloneta Beach.

His family, based in Elmhurst, Illinois, describes him as a responsible person who always checks in with loved ones. Local Catalan police are conducting extensive searches, employing air patrols and underwater sweeps to locate him.

His friends in the city have begun distributing missing person signs, as the community rallies to raise awareness about his disappearance. In a statement, the University of Alabama expressed its commitment to supporting Gracey’s family and encouraging anyone with information to contact local authorities.

Gracey is a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and holds two positions within the organization at his university. The fraternity's CEO stated that they are in regular communication with the family and are supporting their efforts to find him.