Found Deceased Spain - James “Jimmy” Gracey - UA Student from Chicago - Barcelona - 17 March 2026

[Charlot123]

I was in Barcelona in 2005, and we were told that walking unawares on Las Ramblas, the major tourist drag, would almost certainly result in being pickpocketed, even in broad daylight. That said, this happens in Nashville, here in Chicago…too often, sadly.

We met the New Year of 2010 on Las Ramblas, drinking from a champagne bottle, with plenty of people around us. It felt safe. Pickpocketing can happen in any touristy place, but in genersl, Barcelona felt rather safe to me. All restaurants close much later than in the US, and it is a nocturnal city, that's true.

Very sorry for the Gracey family. One more reminder (to all of us) of the "safety rules", especially when young and traveling in a group.

 

[SaraSmile]

We met the New Year of 2010 on Las Ramblas, drinking from a champagne bottle, with plenty of people around us. It felt safe. Pickpocketing can happen in any touristy place, but in genersl, Barcelona felt rather safe to me. All restaurants close much later than in the US, and it is a nocturnal city, that's true.

Very sorry for the Gracey family. One more reminder (to all of us) of the "safety rules", especially when young and traveling in a group.

Haha, yes, last Ramblas is crazy, my daughter and I were in Spain 5 years ago, went to Barcelona. Yes, it’s safe if you are used to cities, which we were. Las Ramblas is pickpocket central, bumping, distractions, gypsies, etc. I literally sewed pockets inside of my jackets( buy on Amazon)wallet, passport, keys, could only be accessed by opening jacket zipper, then opening pocket with a zipper, haha! Camera under jacket. My bag just had water bottle, snacks.

I’m a bit streetwise as I have lived in NYC and San Francisco, lots of hold ups ( but not me).
I also lived in Pakistan, and the pickpockets there literally tore the pants pockets open( tore fabric), content fells, quickly grabbed, ran away! I learned to wear track shoes, run or walk fast, as most crooks look for slow moving, unobservant people to attack.

JMO

 

[SaraSmile]

These Spring Break baccanalias are pretty well-known even here in the UK.

I imagine that much of the carnage is down to the higher minimum drinking ages in much of the US compared to Europe, so American students probably have less experience of handling drink if not necessarily drugs than European ones do. Knowing your limits and developing a sense of how to keep safe are things that come with experience and practice.

As for Barcelona, it's becoming edgier as destination. Tourist numbers are through the roof and unsustainable. Local people are really hacked off that so many flats are being used for short term rentals/AirB&B, creating a housing shortage and sky high rents for those lucky enough to find somewhere to live. In fact, there have been large popular demonstrations against tourism and tourist numbers in the city in the past couple of years. And the city has drawn in a lot of street crime over the past 10 years. Earlier it was Eastern European Roma, Bulgarians and Romanians, but they have recently been joined by large numbers of illegal African migrants.

In view of the above, Barcelona is the last city in Spain that I would go to for a break, though it remains the most common Spanish destination for Brits on breaks.

Yes, I’ve heard all about the reports that Spain is over run with tourists( air bnb, rent issue). I think Spain is either #1 or #2 country, worldwide destination now. Barcelona is very nice, but a bit tough with pickpockets.
When we went to Spain we stayed in the South, Andalusia, Marbella, Califa Vejer, Tarifa, several National Parks, Sevilla( capitol, but very mellow), auto race track event. We did more what locals would do, no pickpockets. We spent very little time in Barcelona, Grenada, too crowded.
JMO

 

[dub]

There have been conflicting reports about the American girl with most MSM reporting saying that they were talking at the bar. Some reporting says that she left the bar later on her own, so we don't have any official information on this.

Also, his roommates left before Jimmy did, Jimmy wanted to stay at the bar at the time his friends left.

Also, there is nothing to say they were "hammered." The toxicology report when it is available will show blood alcohol content and we will know, then, if intoxication was a contributing factor to JG's death.

At this time I think it was likely he went out to have a pee before he began walking home and an accident happened. Even a couple of drinks could make a person less steady, especially walking on a rocky pier. On the other hand, it's possible that the toxicology will show that something was put in his drink or that the thief who stole his phone is somehow involved. Maybe not likely, but until ruled out it is too soon for the family to rule anything out and for officials to do the same.

Thanks, sounds like I was off on a couple details and I appreciate the correction.

I really hope I didn’t come off as judgmental by suggesting that he or his friends were hammered. Im pretty sure they were, but they’re college kids on spring break, that’s how it goes down sometimes.

It might be an unpopular opinion on here, but I have no problem with that at all. 99.999% of the time all it results in is a hangover and you eventually live and learn. I’ve been there hundreds of times, and with the benefit of hindsight I could have died based on a random literal or figurative misstep more times than I can count, but such is life.

To me it’s not really any different than countless other activities that involve calculated risk—I dunno, skiing, rock climbing, swimming in the ocean when you haven’t been drinking—and it sounds like Jimmy just happened to get really, really unlucky and this was the horrible end result.

 

[su5ie]

Thanks for the visual. I do agree with @Sundog's post that he probably went there to pee, and fell in.

Such an awful tragedy @MassGuy

 

[Charlot123]

Haha, yes, last Ramblas is crazy, my daughter and I were in Spain 5 years ago, went to Barcelona. Yes, it’s safe if you are used to cities, which we were. Las Ramblas is pickpocket central, bumping, distractions, gypsies, etc. I literally sewed pockets inside of my jackets( buy on Amazon)wallet, passport, keys, could only be accessed by opening jacket zipper, then opening pocket with a zipper, haha! Camera under jacket. My bag just had water bottle, snacks.

I’m a bit streetwise as I have lived in NYC and San Francisco, lots of hold ups ( but not me).
I also lived in Pakistan, and the pickpockets there literally tore the pants pockets open( tore fabric), content fells, quickly grabbed, ran away! I learned to wear track shoes, run or walk fast, as most crooks look for slow moving, unobservant people to attack.

JMO

We love to travel. We went as far as India and New Zealand. The closest I ever was to being pickpocketed/robbed was in Anaheim.

There were three of us walking on the sidewalk, me being the closest to its edge. I wore a zippered Coach purse with long strap in a crossbody way. A young cyclist tried to yank it off. It was not small, but luckily, the purse itself was on the other side from him and I instinctively pushed it close to my body. The people walking with me were under the impression that this young and careless cyclist for some reason nearly hit me. (IRL: he was young, probably from some local gang and would have never hit me - he was very good with his bicycle).

So yes, I love big cities and perhaps living in them gives one certain protective habits. (Also, Coach, not my favorite brand, is quite sturdy).

 

[Charlot123]

Thanks, sounds like I was off on a couple details and I appreciate the correction.

I really hope I didn’t come off as judgmental by suggesting that he or his friends were hammered. Im pretty sure they were, but they’re college kids on spring break, that’s how it goes down sometimes.

It might be an unpopular opinion on here, but I have no problem with that at all. 99.999% of the time all it results in is a hangover and you eventually live and learn. I’ve been there hundreds of times, and with the benefit of hindsight I could have died based on a random literal or figurative misstep more times than I can count, but such is life.

To me it’s not really any different than countless other activities that involve calculated risk—I dunno, skiing, rock climbing, swimming in the ocean when you haven’t been drinking—and it sounds like Jimmy just happened to get really, really unlucky and this was the horrible end result.

It is an absolutely normal behavior for people in their 20-es, but specifically because it is normal, perhaps if people go out to drink, someone akin to “a designated driver”, to watch over friends who plan to drink, should be used? Next day it can be someone else in the group who decides to stay sober for that night. Tragedies like this, sadly, happen, kids are kids, and it would be naive to expect that they would change their behavior when traveling.

 

[MassGuy]

Thanks, sounds like I was off on a couple details and I appreciate the correction.

I really hope I didn’t come off as judgmental by suggesting that he or his friends were hammered. Im pretty sure they were, but they’re college kids on spring break, that’s how it goes down sometimes.

It might be an unpopular opinion on here, but I have no problem with that at all. 99.999% of the time all it results in is a hangover and you eventually live and learn. I’ve been there hundreds of times, and with the benefit of hindsight I could have died based on a random literal or figurative misstep more times than I can count, but such is life.

To me it’s not really any different than countless other activities that involve calculated risk—I dunno, skiing, rock climbing, swimming in the ocean when you haven’t been drinking—and it sounds like Jimmy just happened to get really, really unlucky and this was the horrible end result.

Could not possibly agree with you more.

Been there, done that, we just got lucky.

 

[Sundog]

James Gracey, missing University of Alabama student from Elmhurst, found dead

Family members said James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama, was visiting friends who are studying abroad. Gracey was last seen at a beachfront nightclub in Barcelona along the Mediterranean Sea but sep…

www.chicagotribune.com

Gracey graduated from Chicago’s St. Ignatius College Prep in 2023, the school confirmed to the Tribune. Gracey was a third-generation alumnus of the private Catholic school, following his mother, grandfather and great-uncle, according to a St. Ignatius spokesperson.

The school, in a statement, said the “Saint Ignatius College Prep community is united in grief” following the news of Gracey’s death and are holding his family “in our hearts as they process the unimaginable loss of their beloved son, brother, nephew and grandson.”

During his time at St. Ignatius, Gracey played hockey and lacrosse and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society. The school said Gracey will be remembered for his strength of character, loyalty and the way he showed up for teammates and friends.

The University of Alabama said in a statement that the school community “is heartbroken to learn of the death of Jimmy Gracey.” “Jimmy’s loss is deeply felt across our campus. Our condolences are with the Gracey family during this devastating time,” it said.

A memorial Mass for Gracey will be held at 8 a.m. Monday at the Church of the Holy Family on Chicago’s Near West Side, according to St. Ignatius.

 

[Sundog]

Mar 20, 2026, 8:01 AM EDT

James Gracey's brother posts tribute to social media after student found dead in Spain​

Tommy Gracey posted a tribute to his brother, James "Jimmy" Gracey, on Instagram on Thursday.

"I don't know what to say or how to deal with this. I can't believe it. I'm gonna miss all the texts and calls about hockey, school, and life in general. I'm not ready to say goodbye to that," he said in part.

James Gracey's brother posts tribute to social media after student found dead in Spain

Tommy Gracey posted a tribute to his brother, James "Jimmy" Gracey, on Instagram on Thursday.

abc7chicago.com

 

[Dotta]

"The insider, with close ties to police,
shed new light on the man arrested for pocketing Gracey’s phone,
saying
he found the device on the street and picked it up.

Police do not believe the man, who had a history of prior thefts,
had any direct contact with Gracey,
the source said, according to the report.

Gracey’s wallet, which was found floating nearby, was recovered,
with his cash, credit cards and identification inside."

University of Alabama student James Gracey might have been drugged before death: report

Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the University of Alabama student was drugged before he fell to his death off the coast of Spain.

nypost.com

 

[SaraSmile]

It is an absolutely normal behavior for people in their 20-es, but specifically because it is normal, perhaps if people go out to drink, someone akin to “a designated driver”, to watch over friends who plan to drink, should be used? Next day it can be someone else in the group who decides to stay sober for that night. Tragedies like this, sadly, happen, kids are kids, and it would be naive to expect that they would change their behavior when traveling.

You are right about young people, most who indulge have a designated driver.
It just occurred to me, a designated driver, sober person, could be responsible overall, watch over, keep track of the drinkers, make sure good decisions are made.
Most young people know not to split up, always stay together, “got your back”, especially women.
Maybe a young man felt safe, but it’s not true if drinking.
Not a judgement at all, when I was young, we indulged, we knew to stay together
JMO

 

[Sundog]

My friend’s son was born premature. James’ mom helped save his life.

View attachment 653819

I didn't realize that Jimmy's mother is a pediatrician. What an incredible loss for this family, community, and beyond.

I saw on the Facebook page for the city of Elmhurst that they are tying red ribbons around trees in honor of Jimmy. And that the St. Ignatius Academy where he went to school is holding a memorial mass for him on Monday. The family has deep roots in the community and at St. Ignatius. His mother and other relatives attended school there.

It's good to see that the community is so supportive, organizing meal drop-offs, etc. doing what they can.

 

[MassGuy]

I didn't realize that Jimmy's mother is a pediatrician. What an incredible loss for this family, community, and beyond.

I saw on the Facebook page for the city of Elmhurst that they are tying red ribbons around trees in honor of Jimmy. And that the St. Ignatius Academy where he went to school is holding a memorial mass for him on Monday. The family has deep roots in the community and at St. Ignatius. His mother and other relatives attended school there.

It's good to see that the community is so supportive, organizing meal drop-offs, etc. doing what they can.

Elmhurst really is an incredible community. Everyone is so close, and it has a 1950's type vibe, especially near the movie theater. I was surprised that his mom took care of my friend's son. It took my friends 10 years to have him, and it was not an easy process once she did get pregnant.

 

[su5ie]

Has or will an autopsy be done when his body is repatriated ? I would always recommend a second opinion. Especially when someone dies in tragic circumstances abroad

 

[Sundog]

Has or will an autopsy be done when his body is repatriated ? I would always recommend a second opinion. Especially when someone dies in tragic circumstances abroad

I agree with you and think that once the final toxicology reports are completed and LE has all the available evidence and an official conclusion is drawn by LE, then the family can also look at all the available evidence and then make their own choices on how to proceed.

 

[su5ie]

I agree with you and think that once the final toxicology reports are completed and LE has all the available evidence and an official conclusion is drawn by LE, then the family can also look at all the available evidence and then make their own choices on how to proceed.

Thank you for your reply

 

[drdetective]

The phone is still an issue for me. If the guy really found it on the beach how did it get there? If he had it when he fell in, it wouldn't float to the beach. He could have dropped it, but it seems unlikely he would knowingly drop it and not pick it up. If he was so incoherent as to unknowingly drop it, why did the friends let him go off by himself? If he said he was going for a swim, why did they let him?

All of these. His buddy says on IG that they didn’t leave him, that people should wait for autopsy results “before they judge.” But how can an autopsy prove they didn’t leave him or let him wander off?

 

[megaCB]

I don’t consider myself a conspiracy theorist, but does anyone else worry about, in a touristy area, local authorities writing it off as an accident without due diligence? I really hope it wouldn’t happen, but it keeps popping up in my mind, how it might affect the local economy if the area isn’t seen as safe…. That wouldn’t happen, would it?

 

[ChatteringBirds]

But isn't there is video evidence that he was alone at the water's edge in this case? I don't think it should be released to the public necessarily, but his family, or a representative of their choosing, should hopefully be allowed to view it if they want to, IMO.

I guess toxicology results have to be trusted, and the stolen phone is suspicious, but doesn't it seem like police were completely on top of tracking the phone, arresting the thief, etc.? I don't see a reason to doubt due diligence, JMO.