20-Year-Old Alabama Student Found Dead In Barcelona After Going Missing During Spring Break – Police Recovered Phone While Making Arrest As New Details Emerge

Some of James Gracey’s belongings have been found.

Barcelona police have reportedly recovered a phone belonging to University of Alabama student James Gracey following an arrest.

Gracey took off for the Catalonian city for spring break but did not return to his place of stay after a night out on Tuesday.

Chicago’s WMAQ-TV reports that the student was at popular hangout spot, Shôko, before he disappeared.

His mother, Theresa Gracey, asked for help finding him in a Facebook post. She said the police had his phone, but he “didn’t make it back to the air bnb.” 


Gracey’s family said he was last seen near the club around 3 a.m. He was wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross.

They noted that he was visiting friends for spring break.

A university spokesperson said he was on a “personal trip,” adding that staff remain in touch with his family and are providing support.

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Catalonia police told NBC they were investigating the disappearance.

“A call was received early yesterday morning, around 1:00 AM, reporting a possible disappearance. The disappearance was reported to have occurred on March 17, 2026, at 3:00 AM, in the Port Olímpic area,” they said.

James Gracey Reportedly Found Dead

Two people carry the body found on 19 March 2026 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. (Photo By Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images)

The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that police divers have found Gracey’s body.

“An American student who vanished during a trip to Spain has been found dead, local police told the Daily Mail,” the outlet stated. “A source at Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force, told the Daily Mail his body was discovered by police divers on Thursday.”

The authorities believe that Gracey may have fallen into the sea after leaving the nightclub.

“‘A witness who happened to be passing saw him leave the nightclub, saw him heading towards this rocky outcrop,” a Mossos d’Esquadra source said. “From there he may have fallen into the sea and drowned.”

Police deployed boats off Somorrostro Beach, where Gracey’s wallet was found floating in the water.