The death of an Alabama student in Barcelona is believed to be accidental, but the eyes are drugged
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The springtime death of University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey off a Spanish beach is believed to be an accident, but authorities have not ruled out the possibility that he was drugged, a law enforcement source in Barcelona told Fox News Digital.
However, the 20-year-old’s wallet was found intact, containing cash, credit cards and identification.
Investigators believe Gracey walked into the water and fell in under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both, according to the source, but they are not sure enough to close the case pending the results of an autopsy and toxicology.
POLICE RULE JIMMY GRACEY’S DEATH AS AN ACCIDENT AFTER DISAPPEARING DURING SPRING BREAK IN BARCELONA, IT HAPPENED AS AN ACCIDENT.
Jimmy Gracey in an undated photo wearing a Crimson Tide football jersey. The University of Alabama junior was reported missing on a trip to Barcelona on March 17. (Gracey’s family)
The source also revealed new information about the arrest of the man who handled Gracey’s phone. The subject was previously known to authorities and has a history of prior theft. However, according to the source, it is not believed that he took it directly from Gracey.
He is believed to have found a phone in the street and picked it up – leading to his later arrest.
According to investigators, he had no contact with Gracey, a source told Fox News Digital.
Catalan police from the Mossos d’Esquadra carry out a recovery operation at the Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (James Breeden of Fox News Digital)
Investigators are still reviewing the surveillance video, the source said. The results of the autopsy and toxicology report are not expected to be completed until next Thursday, and authorities are not expected to announce the official cause of death before then. There was no word on any possible signs of trauma Friday.
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA STUDENT JAMES GRACEY DISAPPEARS IN BARCELONA AFTER VISITING STUDY ABROAD FRIENDS.
It is said that there are several “loose” areas that the authorities must close before the case reaches its conclusion.
Catalan police from the Mossos d’Esquadra carry out a recovery operation at the Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (James Breeden of Fox News Digital)
Other active theories still in play include that Gracey may have been drugged, took drugs herself or consumed large amounts of alcohol to distract herself.
As in some parts of the US, the source admitted theft rings and immigration crimes can be a problem in the area of the waterfront promenade, where Gracey was last seen. He said that although there is a significant amount of crime opportunities there, especially at night and around clubs and bars, overall crime in Barcelona has been on the decline for several years.
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A Catalan police diver from the Mossos d’Esquadra searches the coast and Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. Police are searching for clues to the whereabouts of 20-year-old University of Alabama student James Gracey who was last seen early Tuesday morning at a nightclub. (James Breeden of Fox News Digital)
Earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan regional police, said they believe Gracey’s death was accidental but declined to release specific details about her final moments.
Gracey, a 6-foot, 1-inch college junior, and a group of friends from the Alabama chapter of Theta Chi fraternity flew to Europe on a spring break trip, with plans to visit friends in Barcelona who are studying abroad.
He was last seen alive on Tuesday morning at Shoko, a beach resort near the Port Olimpic marina, where authorities found his body on Thursday evening.
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A general view of Shoko nightclub Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. Police are searching for clues to the whereabouts of 20-year-old University of Alabama student James Gracey who was last seen Tuesday morning at Shoko nightclub. (James Breeden of Fox News Digital)
Her last known photo shows her inside a club, with curly brown hair and wearing her gold chain, with a rhinestone cross.
Most of the group left around 3 am, but Gracey stayed behind. He was seen talking to a brown-haired American woman, according to local reports.
When his friends woke up later that morning, he had failed to return to the group’s Airbnb near Ronda de Sant Pere, a central street in the city about 1.5 kilometers from Shoko.
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Catalan police from the Mossos d’Esquadra search the beach and Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. Police are looking for clues to the whereabouts of 20-year-old University of Alabama student James Gracey. (James Breeden of Fox News Digital)
Friends informed his family and the local police, who opened an investigation, according to the Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police of Catalonia, which includes Barcelona.
The case made international headlines after Gracey’s mother, Therese Gracey, posted about her disappearance on a Facebook group for migrants in Barcelona, and her father, Taras Gracey, traveled to Spain to join the search effort.
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On Thursday, the Mossos d’Esquadra sent teams to swim along the Mediterranean coast.
A general view of the Shoko Port Olimpic marina night club in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (James Breeden of Fox News Digital)
At around 18:30 in the afternoon, a marina employee was seen coming out to confront the police. He pointed to where he came from, the police quickly closed the place, the detectives focused on something inside.
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Despite low visibility – just under 16 inches – they found Gracey’s remains around 7:15 pm.
Back home, her girlfriend in Tuscaloosa posted a heartbreaking tribute to Gracey on TikTok.
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“Fly high my angel,” he captioned it, with Noah Kahan’s “Strawberry Wine” playing.
Kenna Cole wrote: “You are forever indebted to being loved by such a pure hearted, sweet, devoted, and selfless person. “I wish I could turn back time, but I am so grateful that I was able to see the last six months of your wonderful life. James Paul Gracey, you were truly a blessing, and every minute I spent with you felt nothing but that. Please continue to pray for Grace’s family and keep Jimmy’s memory in your hearts.”
