Body of missing Illinois student found in waters off beach of Barcelona | Barcelona
The body of James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old college student from Illinois, was found in water off the coast of Barcelona on Thursday, Spanish police said.
The press office of the Catalonia regional police in Barcelona told The Associated Press that Gracey’s body was found by police divers and positively identified.
The University of Alabama student’s body was found near where she was last seen outside a nightclub with friends early Tuesday. He was visiting friends in Barcelona for spring break.
Catalan police said the investigation into the cause of death is ongoing.
Gracey was last seen outside Shoko nightclub in Barcelona but was separated from her friends at around 3am on Tuesday. Gracey never returned to the room he rented with friends, according to family members who lived in the Elmhurst suburb about 30 kilometers west of Chicago. They realized something was wrong when police contacted them and told them they had found his phone.
In an interview before Gracey’s death was confirmed by police, Gracey’s aunt told the AP that he was “just a great kid, a good Catholic kid from the midwest.”
“He is a very good student, an honors program at the University of Alabama, a sorority chaplain, a great brother and a role model to his cousins,” Beth Marren O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly said his nephew left Alabama on Thursday and spent the weekend in Amsterdam, then arrived in Barcelona on Monday and planned to spend the week with classmates.
Barcelona is a popular tourist destination that welcomes millions of foreign visitors every year. It is generally safe compared to major US cities where pickpockets are often the biggest concern for tourists.
Its beaches, located within walking distance of the center of Barcelona, are the center of attention especially for young visitors. The area where Gracey went out is located on a coastline with many restaurants and nightclubs frequented by locals and foreigners.
“We are keeping Jimmy and his family at the forefront of our thoughts, and our staff is in direct contact with the family to offer every support and assistance possible,” the University of Alabama said in a statement Thursday. he said.
