Foul play fears for missing U.S. student in Barcelona: 'We're scared'
· Toronto Sun
Fears are mounting that an American university student who vanished after a night partying in Spain is the victim of foul play.
According to cops, University of Alabama student James Paul Gracey, 20, was last seen on security footage leaving one of Barcelona’s hottest nightclubs with an unidentified person around 3 a.m. Tuesday.
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Now, investigators believe that Gracey may have been murdered.
WBMA-TV reported Thursday that a Catalan Police aquatic unit scoured the water in search of Gracey and found his wallet off Somorrostro beach — just a few hundred feet from the nightclub, where he was last seen.
Gracey spent the night partying with pals at the famed Shoko club. But when his friends decided to knock it on the head around 3 a.m., he stayed behind. He was reported missing the next day.
Phone seized off someone arrested
His family told local reporters that investigators in Barcelona found his phone after they arrested someone in another matter. Gracey’s disappearance is completely out of character his family said in a statement.
“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,” the family said in a statement.
A junior at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Gracey is a native of Elmhurst, Illinois and had been studying accounting. His family said he was visiting friends in Spain who were studying there.
Cops in Barcelona are scouring the city’s nightlife areas and the Airbnb where he was staying.
Frat brothers ‘scared’
A fraternity brother told WBMA he was with Gracey in the minutes before he disappeared. Cavin McLay said his friends are all “scared” for the popular young man.
“Unfortunately, he was separated from the rest of the group later into the night, and that was the last time we’ve heard from him,” Cavin McLay told WBMA on Wednesday.
“It’s tough. We’re doing everything we can to keep our heads up and remain hopeful that we find him safe, but it’s a tough time. And, you know, we’re scared,” McLay said, adding both are members of the Theta Chi fraternity.
McLay added that Gracey is a “great person, a man of upstanding character. One of those people that’s there for anyone when they ever need it.
“He serves as a mentor for our younger guys and guides our brothers on their journey with their faith. And he also serves as one of our philanthropy chairmen and devotes his time to giving back to others.”
His friends are helping cops and family members find him.
“They’re out on the beach right now handing out flyers, just getting as many eyes as we possibly can looking out for him,” McLay said.
@HunterTOSun