Family of Elmhurst, Illinois college student James Gracey says disappearance in Spain is “completely out of character”

A University of Alabama student from the Chicago suburbs was reported missing while on a trip to Barcelona, Spain.

James “Jimmy” Gracey, 20, from Elmhurst, Illinois, was visiting friends studying abroad during his spring break. His family said he disappeared early Tuesday morning after visiting Shoko Barcelona, a club in the Villa Olimpica area on the Barceloneta Beach.  

“They went to Shoko last night. The police have his phone but he didn’t make it back to the air bnb,” his mother Therese Marren Gracey wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. She did not explain how police came into possession of her son’s phone. 

The El Periódico newspaper in Spain reports that police believe James Gracey did not leave the club alone. The newspaper reported sources said this did not seem like a “normal” case. 

In a formal statement, the family said he was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants that were likely joggers, and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross. He’s described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall and about 175 pounds. 

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

The Gracey family said they are working closely with local authorities and thanked the public for the support they’ve received. 

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

James Gracey graduated from Chicago’s Saint Ignatius College Prep on the Near West Side. 

“The Saint Ignatius community is praying for the safe return of Jimmy Gracey ’23,” school officials posted in a statement on Facebook.  

The U.S. State Department said through a spokesperson that they are ready to provide “all consular assistance to Americans in need abroad,” but did not comment specifically on James Gracey.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 224-505-3886.

Full statement from the Gracey Family

Our family is deeply concerned about James “Jimmy” Gracey, who has been missing in Barcelona since the early morning hours of March 17. 

Jimmy is a 20-year-old University of Alabama student visiting friends abroad during spring break. He was last seen around 3:00 AM CET at the Shoko nightclub in the Port Olímpic area. He was wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants (likely joggers), and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross. He is approximately 6’1″ and 175 pounds. 

We are asking anyone who may have seen Jimmy or has any information—no matter how small—to please contact 224.505.3886. 

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. 

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.