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In what was supposed to be a vibrant spring break like every other, a reunion in Spain has turned into a desperate international search. The family of James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama, is pleading for answers after the Chicago native vanished in the early hours of St. Patrick's Day in Barcelona.
As the search enters a key point, there is some news about the disappearance, the current police investigation, and how the community is rallying to bring Jimmy home.
The night of the disappearance
Jimmy Gracey, a resident of Elmhurst, Illinois, had traveled to Barcelona to visit friends who are currently studying in Spanish grounds. On the night of March 17, the group visited Shoko, a popular restaurant and nightclub located in the city's prominent nightlife district.
According to his mother, Therese Gracey, Jimmy was last seen around 3:00 AM. While he was out with friends, the group became separated at the end of the night. Jimmy never arrived at the Airbnb the group had rented on Ronda de Sant Pere, a central avenue in the heart of Barcelona.
A recovered phone and a mystery witness
The investigation took a sharp turn when family spokesperson Noreen Heron confirmed that Barcelona police recovered Jimmy's phone during the arrest of another individual.
While local authorities have declined to comment on the identity of the person found with the device or the nature of their arrest, they are using the phone as a digital breadcrumb trail. Investigators are currently analyzing the phone's recent location history, reviewing surveillance footage from the waterfront area and interviewing any potential witnesses who may have seen Jimmy that night.
One specific lead involves an American female with brown hair, whom Jimmy is believed to have been speaking with around the time he was last seen.
A community in shock
Back in Tuscaloosa, the news has completely shaken the University of Alabama campus. Jimmy serves as the chaplain and philanthropy chairman for the Theta Chi fraternity, a role where he is known for mentoring younger members and his dedication to service. The president of the fraternity chapter and a friend who traveled to Spain with Jimmy, commented:
"We're keeping our heads up and remaining hopeful that we find him safe
To continue investigating and discovering everything, Jimmy's father, Taras Gracey, has flown to Barcelona to coordinate directly with the Catalan police (Mossos d'Esquadra).
The disappearance has sparked conversation in local expat groups regarding a string of recent robberies. Just a day prior to Jimmy vanishing, a tourist was reportedly robbed of a gold chain less than half a mile away at Port Olímpic.
However, law enforcement sources have indicated they do not currently suspect a connection between that robbery and Jimmy's disappearance, a distinction that the source noted actually makes the student's case more concerning to investigators.