Harrowing final moments of Alabama student revealed as his body is found in sea near Barcelona

The last known moments of James 'Jimmy' Gracey in Barcelona are gradually being pieced together after a local witness helped guide police to where his body was found.

The 20-year-old was last seen leaving the beachfront nightclub Shôko at around 3 a.m. last Tuesday.

When he failed to return, a major search effort began, drawing concern from both Spanish authorities and U.S. media. By Thursday, his body had been recovered from the Mediterranean Sea.

Retracing James Gracey's final steps

Exactly how he died remains unclear.

However, a witness told Mossos d'Esquadra that they saw Gracey heading toward a rocky stretch of coastline.

The witness said, “From there he may have fallen into the sea and drowned.”

Investigators are also examining surveillance footage that reportedly shows Gracey leaving the nightclub with someone who has not yet been identified.

Around the same time, his wallet was discovered floating in the water near Somorrostro Beach, which sits just outside the club and beside one of Barcelona’s main marinas.

Emergency crews later searched the area extensively using boats, divers, helicopters, and drones, but police said no further evidence was uncovered.

Authorities are still trying to understand what happened after Gracey became separated from his friends.

His fraternity brother, Cavin McLay, said Gracey chose to stay longer at the club while others left, and they lost track of him afterwards.

A criminal investigation remains a possibility

Police have not ruled out the possibility of criminality being at play, particularly after confirming he left the club with another person.

Security footage shows him walking away with someone, though investigators have not identified who it was.

He had earlier been seen speaking with a young American woman with brown hair, but it is not known if she was the same person he departed with.

Another witness reported seeing a young man walking toward the sea near the club.

Officers searched the Airbnb where Gracey had been staying and interviewed those who were with him that night.

His mother, Therese, said police later recovered his phone after detaining someone, though details remain limited.

Therese explained, “What we've put together is that his phone was stolen and the police just happened to pick the guy who stole it up,” and added that it was found “when they searched the guy.”

Authorities have not confirmed whether that individual is connected to Gracey’s disappearance or if the phone was recovered coincidentally.

Earlier in the week, Gracey’s mother had pleaded publicly for help, writing: “The police have his phone but he never made it back to his Airbnb,” and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Gracey had been wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants, and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross when he disappeared.

His father traveled to Barcelona to assist in the search, while the rest of the family described his disappearance as highly unusual.

In a statement, they said: “Jimmy is a kind, responsible, and devoted son and brother. It is completely out of character for him not to check in with family and friends.”

They added, “We are working closely with local authorities and are incredibly grateful for the support we have received.

We ask that you keep Jimmy in your thoughts as we continue to do everything we can to bring him home safely.”

Police confirmed they had opened an investigation, stating: “We are conducting the initial checks and have taken a report in an open investigation,” adding that “A call was received early yesterday morning, around 1am, reporting a possible disappearance,” and that it was believed to have occurred around 3 a.m. on March 17 in the Port Olímpic area.

Gracey had been traveling in Europe before arriving in Barcelona and was staying about three kilometers from the nightclub.

Friends said there had been no signs of trouble in the lead-up to his disappearance.

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