College Student Missing in Barcelona: Search Efforts Intensify

Thu Mar 19 2026 20:01:06 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

James 'Jimmy' Gracey, a 20-year-old student from Illinois, was last seen at a Barcelona nightclub during a visit. His family pleads for information as police conduct extensive searches.

James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student visiting friends in Barcelona, has been reported missing after he was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub. Family members confirmed he did not return to his accommodation since separating from friends around 3 a.m. on Tuesday. Catalan police are conducting aerial and underwater searches, while friends in the area have started distributing missing person flyers. The University of Alabama is collaborating with local authorities to aid in the search.

CHICAGO (AP) — Police in Spain searched Thursday for a college student from Illinois reported missing this week after a night out with friends.

James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama, was visiting friends who are studying abroad. Gracey was last seen at a nightclub in Barcelona but separated from friends around 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

Gracey never returned to the room he was renting with friends, according to family members who live in Elmhurst, about 19 miles (31 kilometers) west of Chicago.

Regional Catalan police said Thursday’s searches include air patrol and underwater sweeps.

A social media post by the family indicates that Gracey was last seen outside of Shoko, a nightclub just off Barceloneta Beach, wearing a white shirt and dark pants with a chain featuring a gold rhinestone cross.

“Jimmy is a kind, responsible, and devoted son and brother. It is completely out of character for him not to check in with his family and friends,” the family said in a statement. They expressed gratitude for the ongoing support and assistance they have received and urged the public to keep Jimmy in their thoughts.

Friends still in the city are disseminating missing person flyers with Gracey’s details. The University of Alabama stated they are in direct communication with the family to offer support and assistance, urging anyone with information to reach out to local authorities.

Gracey’s involvement in the Theta Chi fraternity at the University of Alabama underscores his active participation in campus life, holding multiple positions within the chapter. The fraternity’s CEO noted they've maintained communication with lawmakers and chapter members to aid in the ongoing search for Jimmy.