A body was found in an area near the Mediterranean Sea 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama Disappeared during spring break trip to Barcelona. The student, James Gracey, also known as Jimmy, went missing earlier this week after a night out with friends. However, authorities have not confirmed that the body is his.
Meanwhile, James “Jimmy” Gracie, an American college student who went missing in Spain, has been found dead, a Barcelona police spokesman told CNN. “Everything points to this being an accident and not a crime,” the spokesman said.
Body found near last known location
Officials said the body was found in the water near Port Olympic Marina, not far from the nightclub where Gracie was last seen. A Spanish diving team discovered the body while searching near the coast, La Vanguardia reported.
A police spokesman told CNN that the body was found on Somorrostro beach in front of the Shoko nightclub, where the search has been focused. The area was cordoned off and multiple law enforcement vehicles were on scene.
Gracie, who is from Elmhurst, Ill., traveled to Barcelona to visit friends. Surveillance video showed him leaving the beachside Shoko nightclub around 3am on Tuesday. He never returned to the residence, which led to a search operation.
“Good afternoon, we would like to inform you that Mossos officers discovered a body in the water in the Somorrostro area. Efforts are underway to identify the body,” police said in a translated statement, Fox32 Chicago reported.
Despite the discovery, authorities have not issued any official statement confirming the identity of the body.
Also read: James Gracie latest: Body found in Barcelona; father learns of new discovery
What did the police find before the body was found?
Before the body was discovered, investigators had uncovered some worrying details. Gracie’s wallet was found floating in the sea off Somorrostro beach, close to the nightclub. Catalan police diving teams discovered it on Wednesday. Officials searched the water after leaving the club to check if he had entered the water, but a source told CNN the results at the time were “negative.”
His mobile phone was also discovered during the investigation. Family spokesperson Noreen Heron said police found it after detaining another person. However, his aunt, Beth O’Reilly, told NewsNation the family still doesn’t know what happened. “We don’t know if it was lost, stolen, etc.,” she said. “Other than that, we don’t have much additional information at this time.”
According to NBC News, Gracie was last seen wearing a white shirt, dark pants and a necklace with a gold rhinestone cross on her hand. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the body and it is unclear whether it is that of James Gracie.
