The official report on Jimmy Gracey wasn’t just an accident summary; it was a curated narrative. New evidence suggests that the inconsistencies in the file aren’t mistakesâthey are deliberate omissions designed to close the case prematurely
đ© THE GRACEY COVER-UP: 5 Fatal Flaws They Tried to Bury
The official report on Jimmy Gracey wasn’t just an “accident” summary; it was a curated narrative. New evidence suggests that the inconsistencies in the file aren’t mistakesâthey are deliberate omissions designed to close the case prematurely.
Alabama student reportedly fell to his death in Barcelona waters by accident
Autopsy reveals James âJimmyâ Graceyâs injuries consistent with repeatedly hitting breakwaterâs rocks, Spanish media report
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 â and an autopsy revealed injuries on his body that were consistent with having repeatedly struck a breakwaterâs rocks.
Such details about James âJimmyâ Gracey surfaced in the Spanish media as a spokesperson for police in Barcelona told the Associated Press that âall signs pointâ to the 20-year-oldâs 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 regionâs 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
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Spainâs El PaĂs 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 âwithout third-party involvementâ.
El PeriĂłdico, another outlet, added on Friday that a preliminary autopsy report filed in court in Barcelona ârules out foul play and supports the police hypothesis that [Gracey] accidentally fell into the sea and drownedâ. Furthermore, the autopsy report documented âseveral injuries consistent with hitting the rocks of a breakwaterâ, according to Barcelona-based El PeriĂłdico, which also wrote that toxicology test results were pending.
The outletsâ reports contained details about the two-day search for Gracey. At one point, El PaĂs reported, Barcelona police found Graceyâs 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 PaĂs.
Meanwhile, El PeriĂłdico reported that police narrowed their search for Gracey after finding his wallet and some clothes. The outlet also reported that Graceyâs 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 âJimmyâ Gracey. Photograph: Gracey Family via AP
A statement from Graceyâs family members asked for prayers and privacy as they struggle âto come to terms with this unimaginable lossâ.
âOur family is heartbroken,â the statement also said. âJimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend.â
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.
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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 Graceyâs death, his aunt described him in an interview with the AP as âjust a great kid, a good Catholic boyâ from the USâs midwest.
A statement from the University of Alabama said its community was âheartbrokenâ upon learning of Graceyâs death.
âJimmyâs loss is deeply felt across our campus,â the universityâs statement said. âOur condolences are with the Gracey family during this devastating time.â
University of Alabama student James Gracey might have been drugged before death: report
Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey was drugged before he fell to his death off the coast of Spain.
Barcelona cops have publicly indicated that the 20-year-oldâs death was accidental, but privately, suspect he was under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both when he drowned, a source told Fox News Digital.
However, Graceyâs wallet, which was found floating nearby, was recovered, with his cash, credit cards and identification inside, the outlet reported.

James Graceyâs death was likely âaccidental,â according to Spanish authorities.AP
Investigators are waiting for several âloose endsâ to be tied up before they can close the case, including the studentâs autopsy and toxicology results, the source said.
Gracey had been at a popular nightclub with friends in the hours before his death, and a major hypothesis is that he could have been drugged, taken drugs himself or ingested a large enough amount of alcohol to disorient himself.
The insider, with close ties to police, also shed new light on the man arrested for pocketing Graceyâs phone, saying he found the device on the street and picked it up.
Police do not believe the man, who had a history of prior thefts, had any direct contact with Gracey, the source said, according to the report.

Graceyâs body and his wallet were found Thursday, and his body was found in the water off Port Olimpic.REUTERS
Evidence points to âan accidental death,â investigators said Friday before declined to share additional details on the tragedy.
The studentâs body was found the day prior in 13-foot-deep water off Port OlĂmpic, near where Gracey was last seen leaving ShĂŽko nightclub around 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Gracey vanished after being separated from his friends in the clu,b and was reported missing when he failed to return to their Airbnb about two miles away in Ronda de Sant Pere.

Graceyâs wallet was intact, with his cash, credit cards and identification inside, according to a source.AP
He was last seen alive by a person who reportedly saw him walking toward the rocky coastline, close to the beachfront club.
Authorities once suspected foul play, but an official ruling likely wonât come until autopsy results are finalized in the coming weeks.
âJimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and our family is struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss,â his devastated family wrote in a statement.
Gracey â who went by Jimmy, and had traveled to the Spanish city to visit friends who were studying abroad â was the chaplain of the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity.