BARCELONA, Spain — Authorities in Spain have found the body of a missing U.S. college student.
The body of 20-year-old James “Jimmy” Gracey of Illinois was found Thursday evening in the water off a Barcelona beach, near where he was last seen outside a nightclub with his friends early Tuesday.
Police had recovered his phone soon after he went missing. Gracey was a student at the University of Alabama, and was visiting friends in Barcelona for a spring break trip.
Regional Catalan police say that their investigation continues into the cause of death.
Police said Thursday they had found Gracey’s body in the water about 6 p.m. Police told the Associated Press that the body was recovered off Barcelona’s Somorrostro beach, near where Gracey was last reported seen.
A team of police divers found the body.
Gracey was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub in Barcelona but separated from friends around 3 a.m. Tuesday. Gracey never returned to the room he was renting with friends, according to family members who live in the suburb of Elmhurst, about 19 miles west of Chicago. They realized something was wrong when police contacted them, saying they had recovered his phone.
The Gracey family asked for prayers and privacy.
“We are so grateful for the kindness and concern that has been shown for our family during this incredibly difficult time. We have made the decision to pause media interviews at this time to focus on being together and caring for one another. Thank you for respecting our privacy and holding our family in your thoughts and prayers,” a statement from the family said.
In an interview conducted before police confirmation of his death, Beth Marren O’Reilly, Gracey’s aunt, told the Associated Press that he was “just a great kid, a good Catholic boy from the Midwest.”
“Very good student, honors program at University of Alabama, chaplain in his fraternity, you know, just an amazing older brother and role model to his cousins,” O’Reilly said.
Barcelona is a popular tourist destination that brings in millions of foreign visitors each year. It is generally safe, especially compared with major U.S. cities, where tourists’ biggest worry are normally pickpockets.
Barcelona’s beaches, located in walking distance of its center, are a main draw especially for young visitors. The area where Gracey went out is a stretch of beach with several restaurants and nightclubs that are frequented by locals and foreigners.
Gracey was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity at the school, and the international organization said he held two positions within the school’s chapter.
“We are keeping Jimmy and his family at the forefront of our thoughts, and our staff are in direct communication with the family to offer every support and assistance possible,” the University of Alabama said in a statement on Thursday.
O’Connor, Bargfeld and Raza write for the Associated Press. O’Connor reported from Springfield, Ill., and Raza reported from Sioux Falls, S.D. AP writer Suman Naishadham in Madrid contributed to this report.
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