BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: The body found in the water near a beach in Barcelona, Spain on Thursday has been positively identified as that of missing University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey.
Fox News correspondent Michael Ruiz shared the latest update:
A spokesperson for Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police, officially confirms that the remains recovered at Port Olimpic have been identified as belonging to Jimmy Gracey. Rest in peace Mr. Gracey.
Catalan police from the Mossos d’Esquadra perform a recovery operation at Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. Police confirm that the body is that of 20 year-old University of Alabama student James Gracey who was last seen early Tuesday morning at lo al nightclub, Shoko. (📸James Breeden for Fox News Digital)
Catalan police from the Mossos d’Esquadra perform a recovery operation at Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. Police confirm that the body is that of 20 year-old University of Alabama student James Gracey who was last seen early Tuesday morning at… pic.twitter.com/fymyqrK7iu
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) March 19, 2026
MORE BELOW as the story developed on Thursday:
From Fox News: Officers from Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police force in Barcelona, have set up a perimeter around a section of beach and say they’ve discovered a body in the ongoing search for missing University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey.
Early Thursday evening local time, a worker at Port Olimpic, adjacent to the beach outside the club where Gracey was last seen, ran out and waved down police officers, pointing in the direction he came from.
Officers put up crime scene tape, brought in a marked vehicle and cordoned off the scene.
Fox News explained that Gracey and a group of classmates had traveled to Spain to visit friends studying abroad in Barcelona on spring break.
Gracey was last seen by his friends around 3 a.m. Tuesday. The Daily Mail had shared the following in a separate report:
What happened to Gracey after he was separated from his friends at the club is still unknown and investigators are piecing together his movements. Gracey’s Theta Chi fraternity brother Cavin McLay said he wanted to stay longer at Shôko and became separated from the group. He has not been seen since.
Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force, said it could not rule out foul play after discovering Gracey left the nightclub with a stranger. Security camera footage reviewed by police showed him leaving Shôko with another person, but investigators have not yet identified them.
Gracey was seen talking to a young brown-haired American woman at the nightclub, but it was unclear if she was the same person he left with.
Gracey’s wallet was found floating in the water on Wednesday.
Fox News reporter Michael Ruiz announced: “Catalan police confirm they’ve recovered an unidentified body amid the search for missing University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey. Investigators are at an active scene on a dock at Port Olimpic, which is next door to Shoko, the club where Gracey was last seen around 3 a.m. Tuesday.”
“Divers went into the water with a stretcher about 20 minutes ago. They placed a loaded bodybag on the dock about 10 minutes later. The body has not yet been identified.”
🚨🚨🚨Catalan police confirm they’ve recovered an unidentified body amid the search for missing University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey.
Investigators are at an active scene on a dock at Port Olimpic, which is next door to Shoko, the club where Gracey was last seen around 3… https://t.co/K8AoMWDSBs
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) March 19, 2026
Media outlets in Spain are reporting that the body was that of the missing American student, Jimmy Gracey.
In another post, Ruiz added:
HAPPENING NOW: It’s after sunset in Barcelona. Police have set up a blue screen on the dock at Port Olimpic, near club Shoko, where Jimmy Gracey was last seen, Fox News Digital can confirm. Investigators are currently examining what appears to be a loaded body bag on the dock.
We saw divers go into the water around 7:05 p.m. local time and return to the dock with a body bag 10 minutes later.
Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force leading the investigation into the University of Alabama student’s disappearance, said in a statement moments ago that they’ve recovered unidentified human remains. They are currently working to identify the victim.
Separately, the Gracey family just sent this statement, to Fox News’ @PMcGovernTV: “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. We will share updates if and when we’re able.”
🚨 HAPPENING NOW: It’s after sunset in Barcelona.
Police have set up a blue screen on the dock at Port Olimpic, near club Shoko, where Jimmy Gracey was last seen, Fox News Digital can confirm. Investigators are currently examining what appears to be a loaded body bag on the…
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) March 19, 2026
Mossos d’Esquadra, the Police of Catalonia, released the following statement on X Thursday afternoon: “This afternoon we have located a lifeless body in the Somorrostro area of Barcelona and we are carrying out procedures to identify it.”
Less than two hours later, the police added, “They have confirmed that the person found dead is James Gracey, the 20-year-old boy who went missing on Tuesday in Barcelona.”
Confirmem que la persona trobada morta és James Gracey, el noi de 20 anys desaparegut dimarts a Barcelona.
— Mossos (@mossos) March 19, 2026
Live updates https://t.co/tfvohOdvUg
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) March 19, 2026
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