Coverage dated March 17, 2026 to March 19, 2026

Death of west suburban college student in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say

Headline from ABC 7 Chicago, on the newest of 2 developments

What happened to James Gracey? Police say the death of an American student missing in Spain was likely an accident. He was from Elmhurst, IL.

ABC 7 Chicago's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. James Gracey, US college student missing in Spain, is found dead, police say

    Headline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri ·

  2. Newest

    Death of west suburban college student in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say

    Headline from ABC 7 Chicago ·

Reports & sources

36 articles, oldest first.

  1. New York Post

    University of Alabama student James Gracey reported missing after night out in Spain during spring break trip (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    James Paul Gracey, 20, was hanging out at Barcelona's world-famous club, Shoko, on Tuesday, while visiting friends who are studying abroad in the Spanish city, before he went missing, his mother wrote on Facebook.

  2. Fox News

    University of Alabama student James Gracey disappears in Barcelona after visiting friends studying abroad (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    University of Alabama student missing Barcelona James 'Jimmy' Gracey disappeared after visiting Shoko nightclub March 17 during spring break trip, according to his family.

  3. Newsweek

    Jimmy Gracey update: Missing Alabama student's body found in Spain (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Missing Alabama student James “Jimmy” Gracey was found dead off Barcelona after vanishing near a nightclub.

  4. Local News 8

    James Gracey, US college student missing in Spain, is found dead, police say (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    CNN By Chris Boyette, Pau Mosquera Barcelona, Spain (CNN) — James “Jimmy” Gracey, an American college student reported missing in Spain earlier this week, has been found dead, a spokesperson for the Barcelona police told CNN.

  5. New York Post

    Missing University of Alabama student James Gracey’s frat brother recalls last moments before disappearance in Barcelona (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    A fraternity brother of missing University of Alabama student James Paul Gracey recalled the last moments he spent with the 20-year-old inside a Barcelona nightclub before his disappearance.

  6. WSVN Miami

    James Gracey, US college student missing in Spain, is found dead, police say - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports (opens WSVN Miami)

    Published

    WSVN Miami's feed description

    Barcelona, Spain (CNN) — James “Jimmy” Gracey, an American college student reported missing in Spain earlier this week, has been found dead, a spokesperson for

  7. New York Post

    Body recovered in search for University of Alabama student James Gracey missing in Barcelona: reports (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    A body was recovered Thursday in the search for the missing University of Alabama student who went missing while on spring break in Barcelona has been found at sea.

  8. Fox News

    Live Updates: University of Alabama student James (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student visiting friends on spring break, went missing during the early morning hours of March 17. He was last seen at the Shoko nightclub in the Port Olímpic area of Barcelona, Spain.

  9. BNO News

    Body of missing University of Alabama student found in Barcelona (opens BNO News)

    Published

    BNO News's feed description

    A 20-year-old University of Alabama student from the Chicago area who disappeared during a trip to Barcelona has been found dead, according to Catalan police. Authorities identified him as James Gracey, an accounting student from Elmhurst, Illinois.

  10. New York Post

    Missing student James Gracey’s wallet found in sea close to where he vanished in Barcelona (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Barcelona cops searching for missing University of Alabama student James Gracey have reportedly found his wallet floating in the sea – as his frat brother admits he is scared for the Spring Breaker.

  11. CNN

    American student James Gracey is found dead in Barcelona after a spring break night out. Here’s what we know (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    The University of Alabama student was found dead Thursday, days after he was reported missing while traveling abroad in Barcelona. What led up to his death is still unclear.

  12. Seattle Times

    US college student’s death in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say (opens Seattle Times)

    Published

    Seattle Times's feed description

    The death of U.S. college student James “Jimmy” Gracey in Spain was likely an accident, local authorities have said.

  13. ABC 7 Chicago

    Death of west suburban college student in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say (opens ABC 7 Chicago)

    Published

    ABC 7 Chicago's feed description

    What happened to James Gracey? Police say the death of an American student missing in Spain was likely an accident. He was from Elmhurst, IL.

  14. ABC 7 Chicago

    James Gracey's death in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say (opens ABC 7 Chicago)

    Published

    ABC 7 Chicago's feed description

    A spokesperson for Catalonia's regional police in Barcelona said "all signs point" to the University of Alabama student's death being accidental.

  15. CBS News

    University of Alabama student James Gracey's death was likely accidental, Spanish police say (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Police in Barcelona said the death of Jimmy Gracey, a University of Alabama student from Illinois who went missing on vacation, was likely an accident.

  16. NBC Chicago

    Death of college student from Chicago suburbs in Barcelona likely 'accidental:' Police (opens NBC Chicago)

    Published

    NBC Chicago's feed description

    James Gracey, a student from Illinois who was found dead in Barcelona on spring break, was likely the victim of an accident, Spanish police said.

  17. Fox News

    Missing University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey found dead in Barcelona (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    The family of James "Jimmy" Gracey confirmed the 20-year-old University of Alabama student's body was recovered in Barcelona's Port Olimpic after a days-long search.

  18. Newsweek

    Jimmy Gracey found: Map shows where Alabama student's body was recovered (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    The remains were found by police divers and positively identified as James "Jimmy" Gracey, police told the Associated Press.

  19. Legal Insurrection

    Missing U. Alabama Student Found Dead in Spain (opens Legal Insurrection)

    Published

    Legal Insurrection's feed description

    "just steps from the waterfront nightclub where Gracey was last seen"

  20. WMUR

    Alabama student James Gracey found dead in Barcelona (opens WMUR)

    Published

    WMUR's feed description

    The University of Alabama student was found dead Thursday, days after he was reported missing while traveling abroad in Barcelona.

  21. New York Post

    University of Alabama student James Gracey was alone when he accidentally fell and drowned, footage shows (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    University of Alabama student James Gracey was alone when he fell to his death, drowning in Barcelona, Spain, according to a report.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Death of west suburban college student in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say | Since Then