POLICE NOW SUSPECT ‘FOUL PLAY’ IN DISAPPEARANCE OF JIMMY GRACEY

The family of Jimmy Gracey, a 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama, has reported him missing following a spring break trip to Barcelona, Spain. Gracey was in the city visiting friends who are currently studying abroad when he disappeared in the early hours of March 17.

He was last seen around 3 a.m. local time after a visit to the Shoko nightclub, a well-known venue located on the Mediterranean coast. In a recent update provided to Fox News Digital, a family spokesperson confirmed that local police have recovered Gracey’s phone during the arrest of a third party.

At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a white T-shirt and a gold chain featuring a rhinestone cross.

CCTV footage from outside the Shôko, a restaurant and club located in Olympic Village taken around 3 am, lead police to suspect foul play as a factor in his disappearance.

Gracey was visiting with friends who were studying abroad in Spain. They all went out on Monday night but, he never made it back with the group. No person of interest has been identified.

Jimmy Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student from Illinois, traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to spend spring break with some friends traveling abroad. On the night of March 16, they went out to a popular water-front nightclub called Shoko. His friend left the club sometime around 3:00am, but Gracey chose to stay out later. He never made it back to the AirBnB he was renting with some friends and was reported missing.

Barcelona authorities obtained closed-circuit TV video in connection with the case, the Spanish newspaper El Periodico reported Wednesday. They report that he was spotted with another individual, said to be a brunette American female, outside the club. It has not been disclosed if the female was a friend of his or someone he just met that night.

Police were able to obtain his cell phone after arresting another individual. Inspector Carles Valles-Banus with the Mossos d’Esquadra, Barcelona’s police force, declined to discuss the details of the arrest or why the person had Gracey’s cell phone, but he told FOX News that investigators are looking through his location history to try to find him. They are also looking at camera footage from nearby businesses to see if they spot him.

In addition to analyzing his phone and watching camera footage, they are also talking to people who recently had any contact with him. Investigators stated earlier that they believe foul play was involved.

Cavin McLay, president of Alabama’s Theta Chi fraternity and one of Gracey’s friends who traveled with him to Spain, said he is well known within the chapter for his leadership and character. Gracey serves as the fraternity’s chaplain and philanthropy chairman, roles in which he mentored younger members and dedicated time to helping others.

“We’re keeping our heads up and remaining hopeful that we find him safe,” McLay said.

Gracey’s aunt described him as a responsible young man and the oldest of five siblings.

His uncle, a senior CNN producer based in Washington, said Gracey had planned to come back to the states on Saturday. He added that Gracey is not known to lose contact with his family and plays an active role in helping care for his younger siblings.

His parents and two uncles are currently in Barcelona. They are in contact with State Department officials. Please keep all of them in your prayers. I can’t imagine what they’re all going through.