A University of Alabama student who was found dead in Barcelona after going missing while vacationing evidently fell into the sea by accident in view of surveillance cameras – and an autopsy revealed injuries on his body that were consistent with having repeatedly struck a breakwater’s rocks.
Such details about James “Jimmy” Gracey surfaced in the Spanish media as a spokesperson for police in Barcelona told the Associated Press that “all signs point” to the 20-year-old’s death as having been inadvertent.
Gracey was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub at about 3am on Tuesday. The native of suburban Chicago raised alarm when he did not return to a short-term rental where he was staying with friends who accompanied him on their spring break to the Catalan region’s capital.
And, in a development that generated international news headlines, his corpse ultimately was recovered Thursday afternoon in 13ft deep waters off a beach near the Shoko club.
Body of missing Illinois student found in waters off beach of Barcelona
Read more
Spain’s El País newspaper, citing police sources, reported on Friday that local surveillance cameras captured video of Gracey walking by himself toward a dock and falling into the water “without third-party involvement”.
El Periódico, another outlet, added on Friday that a preliminary autopsy report filed in court in Barcelona “rules out foul play and supports the police hypothesis that [Gracey] accidentally fell into the sea and drowned”. Furthermore, the autopsy report documented “several injuries consistent with hitting the rocks of a breakwater”, according to Barcelona-based El Periódico, which also wrote that toxicology test results were pending.
The outlets’ reports contained details about the two-day search for Gracey. At one point, El País reported, Barcelona police found Gracey’s cellphone in the possession of a thief known to officers. But it was unclear whether Gracey lost the device or if it was stolen from him, and investigators ruled out its having anything to do with the subsequent fall into the sea, according to El País.
Meanwhile, El Periódico reported that police narrowed their search for Gracey after finding his wallet and some clothes. The outlet also reported that Gracey’s parents had traveled to Barcelona, and his body would be released to his family for repatriation and burial after the completion of the toxicology tests.
James ‘Jimmy’ Gracey. Photograph: Gracey Family via AP
A statement from Gracey’s family members asked for prayers and privacy as they struggle “to come to terms with this unimaginable loss”.
“Our family is heartbroken,” the statement also said. “Jimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend.”
Barcelona draws millions of foreign tourists annually. It is considered generally safe, especially compared with major cities in the US, which has significantly higher rates of deadly gun violence than other high-income nations.
skip past newsletter promotion
Sign up to Breaking News US
Free newsletter
Get the most important news as it breaks
Enter your email address
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
after newsletter promotion
The Mediterranean beaches in Barcelona are within walking distance of its bustling city center and frequently draw young visitors. When he went missing, Gracey had gone out to a stretch of beach lined with restaurants and nightclubs that are popular with both locals and visitors.
Before police confirmed Gracey’s death, his aunt described him in an interview with the AP as “just a great kid, a good Catholic boy” from the US’s midwest.
A statement from the University of Alabama said its community was “heartbroken” upon learning of Gracey’s death.
“Jimmy’s loss is deeply felt across our campus,” the university’s statement said. “Our condolences are with the Gracey family during this devastating time.”
News
Kouri Richins case: A series of chilling messages before Eric’s death have been uncovered, raising crucial questions
Police recovered numerous text messages revealing Eric Richins had harbored suspicions about his wife long before her death. The messages showed intense tension over financial matters. Kouri constantly pressured Eric about insurance payments and inheritance rights, while Eric expressed unease about his wife’s clandestine dealings. The case of Kouri Richins has already gripped the public with its […]
Latest developments in the Kouri Richins case: A series of chilling messages before Eric’s death raise crucial questions
Police recovered numerous text messages revealing Eric Richins had harbored suspicions about his wife long before her death. The messages showed intense tension over financial matters. Kouri constantly pressured Eric about insurance payments and inheritance rights, while Eric expressed unease about his wife’s clandestine dealings. The case of Kouri Richins has already gripped the public with its […]
Police recovered numerous text messages revealing Eric Richins had harbored suspicions about his wife long before her death
Police recovered numerous text messages revealing Eric Richins had harbored suspicions about his wife long before her death. The messages showed intense tension over financial matters. Kouri constantly pressured Eric about insurance payments and inheritance rights, while Eric expressed unease about his wife’s clandestine dealings. The case of Kouri Richins has already gripped the public with its […]
Investigators have recovered numerous text messages that show Eric Richins had suspicions about his wife long before his death
The case of Kouri Richins has already gripped the public with its unsettling mix of grief, suspicion, and unanswered questions. But now, a chilling new development is adding another layer to the mystery—one that is forcing investigators and onlookers alike to take a closer look at what really happened in the final hours before Eric Richins’ death. At […]
James Gracey’s girlfriend’s latest actions have garnered significant sympathy from friends at the University of Alabama and the hockey club where James used to play
An American student’s heartbroken girlfriend has mourned his ‘devoted, and selfless soul’ after he was found dead on a trip to Spain. James ‘Jimmy’ Gracey, 20, a junior at the University of Alabama, was holidaying for spring break and visiting friends studying abroad in Barcelona. He never made it home from beachfront nightclub Shôko after being separated from […]
James Gracey’s family is outraged by the forensic report on the toxicology levels in the victim’s body
James Gracey’s family is outraged by the forensic report on the toxicology levels in the victim’s body. The James Gracey case continues to stir public opinion with the latest development: the announcement of the toxicology results. The focus of the controversy revolves around whether the victim was fully conscious before the fall. Faced with unexpected […]
End of content
No more pages to load
