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Published 12:15 18 Mar 2026 GMT
University of Alabama student’s mom issues plea as son is reported missing after night out in Spain during spring break
A University of Alabama student has been reported missing after a night out in Barcelona during a spring break trip.
Jimmy Gracey, 20, an honors accounting junior originally from Elmhurst, Illinois, was last seen in the early hours of Tuesday (March 17), after visiting the beachfront nightclub Shôko Barcelona with friends.
The college student, who had been visiting others studying abroad in the city, never made it back to his accommodation.
Jimmy's Mother's Heartbreaking Plea
His mother, Therese Marren Gracey, confirmed his disappearance in an emotional Facebook post, revealing that police are now involved but that key questions remain unanswered.
Therese wrote: "My son is a University of Alabama student who is visiting friends in Barcelona who are studying abroad," explaining that the group had gone out to the popular seafront club on Monday night.
"The police have his phone, but he didn’t make it back to the Airbnb,” she added.
It remains unclear how police came into possession of the 20-year-old's phone.
According to his mother, he was last seen by a friend at the club at around 3AM local time.
"He wears a gold chain with a rhinestone cross. He was last seen by his friend at Shoko around 3 a.m. [local time]. The friend was leaving but Jimmy stayed," she penned in the post.
He had been wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants, "probably joggers," at the time.
Family and Students Rally For Answers
Fellow students have since reported possible sightings of Jimmy, who stands around 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs approximately 175 pounds.
They are urging the family to contact local politicians and embassy officials to increase resources dedicated to the search.
A University of Alabama spokesperson confirmed: "James Paul Gracey is a UA student on a personal trip. UA staff are in touch with the family and those associated with them to offer support and assistance in any way possible," per PEOPLE.
Popular Club At The Center Of Mystery
Shôko Barcelona is one of the city’s most well-known nightlife venues. It was recently ranked among the top clubs in the world and is known for its beachfront setting and large crowds.
On the night Jimmy disappeared, live music was being headlined by EDM artist Daniel Allan, drawing in a packed audience.
Despite ongoing efforts, there has been no confirmed sighting of the university student, who was elected to serve as the chaplain of the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity, since he was last seen inside the club.