James Paul Gracey aka Jimmy Gracey wallet found at sea near Barcelona Shoko club where he was last seen early Tuesday morning amid fears foul play is involved as Spanish authorities say they arrested someone in connection to recovered phone as Elmhurst, Illinois, University of Alabama student’s whereabouts continues to remain unknown after traveling to Spain during Spring Break.
A University of Alabama student reported missing after failing to return to a rental after visiting a nightclub in Barcelona, Spain, is now suspected of being a victim of foul play.
James Paul Gracey aka Jimmy Gracey, 20, from Elmhurst, Illinois, hasn’t been seen since the early hours of Tuesday.
His mother, Therese Marren Gracey, said on social media that her son was in Barcelona visiting friends who were studying abroad during ‘spring break.’
James Paul Gracey phone recovered at Barcelona club
He visited beachfront club Shôko Barcelona with a friend on Monday night. The friend left, but he stayed, with the friend last seeing Jimmy just on 3 a.m.
Therese Gracey confirmed local police had her son’s phone, along with saying her son did not return to the Airbnb where he was staying with friends.
Authorities believe the 20-year-old left the club with an unknown person. A report also noted that Gracey was believed to have been talking to a brown-haired American female there, though it remains unclear if she is the person he left the club with.
‘We’re doing the best we can, taking it minute by minute,’ Gracey’s aunt Beth O’Reilly told “Jesse Weber Live” on Wednesday. ‘We’re all just hanging together and doing the best we can to get his story out so people see his face, recognize his face, and if they know anything, that they’ll bring it to the authorities.’
According to O’Reilly, Jimmy’s phone was retrieved from an individual at the nightclub after being placed under arrest. Family members said that they are not sure how that person obtained the phone- whether it was stolen or lost and picked up.
Jimmy Gracey wallet found
In further developments, the missing college student’s wallet according to Facebook content creator, AbbyBlabby, was found down the beach.
‘I was just informed that Jimmy Gracey’s wallet was found down on the beach,’ she wrote on Facebook adding, ‘Apparently nothing was removed from it.’
A further report from ABC7 described the wallet found floating in the sea near the beach Somorrostro. The beach is a mere 650 meters from Shoko club.
Maritime and aquatic were seen investigating specifically the perimeter where the wallet was found on Wednesday morning.
Area where college student missing known to be Barcelona crime hot spot
The discovery led to Spain’s Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police) now extending the search for Jimmy to the sea. Specialized Aquatic and Underwater Units were working to determine whether Gracey may have entered the water early Tuesday.
Missing spring breaker had planned to return to the United States this weekend
In a statement, the University of Alabama said Gracey was on a personal trip and that it was in touch with the family to offer support.
The president of Gracey’s fraternity chapter, Cavin McLay, is also in Barcelona.
He told NewsNation, in a statement, ‘Jimmy is a beloved brother and a man of upstanding character. He serves as a mentor to younger classes in our chapter and guides our brothers on their journey with their Faith as our Chaplain. He also serves as one of our Philanthropy Chairman and devotes his time to giving back to others. He’s the guy that goes out of his way to be there when someone needs it.’
McLay said the group is working closely with Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., the U.S. State Department, and the embassy in Barcelona.
Jimmy Gracey is 6 ft, 1 inch tall and weighs 175 pounds. He was wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants before he disappeared, along with a gold chain with a rhinestone cross.
Anyone with information is asked to contact 224-505-3886.
