The University of Alabama student went missing after a night out with friends in Barcelona while visiting during spring break, according to Jimmy Gracey's mom
Credit: Help Find Jimmy Gracey/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- A body was found off a Barcelona beach amid the search for missing University of Alabama student James “Jimmy” Gracey
- A short time later, police confirmed the body belonged to the student
- Gracey was last seen early on March 17, leaving a nightclub in the area
Missing college student James "Jimmy" Gracey has been found dead, according to officials.
The Mossos d'Esquadra first confirmed the news that a body had been found on Thursday, March 19, writing that the discovery was made that afternoon near Somorrostro Beach in Barcelona. When reached by PEOPLE, a police spokesperson confirmed that the body was found in the water.
A short time later, they confirmed that the body belonged to Gracey, who disappeared days earlier.
The University of Alabama student went missing after a night out with friends in Barcelona during spring break, according to a since-deleted Facebook post shared by his mother, Therese Marren Gracey, on Tuesday, March 17.
She shared that her son and his friends had visited the Shôko nightclub on Monday, March 16. However, her son did not return to the Airbnb that he had been staying at the following day.
"He was last seen by his friend at Shoko around 3 a.m." on Tuesday, she wrote, sharing that "the friend was leaving but Jimmy stayed."
He was last seen leaving Shôko with someone on video surveillance, according to El Periódico, which cited police.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
After scouring the area on Wednesday, March 18, the search was called off for the night and resumed the next morning. Police activated the Underwater and Maritime units at Port Olímpic, El Mundo reported.
Earlier Thursday, authorities reportedly said they had located Gracey’s wallet, floating at sea, and cordoned off an area on Somorrostro Beach to search for him, according to local news outlet La Vanguardia.
However, when contacted by PEOPLE, a police spokesperson was not able to confirm or deny the report about his wallet.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, the Gracey family said they were "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."
In an updated statement, the university said they "are keeping Jimmy and his family at the forefront of our thoughts, and our staff are in direct communication with the family to offer every support and assistance possible."
Read the full article here
