The search for missing University of Alabama student James Gracey took a new turn after Spanish authorities recovered his phone during the arrest of another individual, according to statements from his family, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Gracey, 20, was last seen around 3 a.m. Tuesday in Barcelona. Security footage captured him leaving [2] a nightclub with an unidentified person after spending the evening with fraternity brothers. He has not been seen since.
According to family spokesperson Noreen Heron, Gracey’s phone was recovered when police arrested another individual. It remains unclear whether the arrest is connected to Gracey’s disappearance.
Law enforcement officials in Barcelona have not provided details about the individual found in possession of the phone, nor have they confirmed whether the arrest is directly tied to the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are currently reviewing the device’s location data to help determine Gracey’s movements after he left the nightclub.
“We don’t know whether [the [phone] was lost, stolen, whatever,” Gracey’s aunt, Beth O’Reilly, told NewsNation.
“Beyond that, we don’t have a lot of additional information right now.”
Gracey, originally from West Elmhurst, Illinois, had traveled to Barcelona after spending the previous weekend in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He arrived in Spain on Monday, just hours before his disappearance.
According to available information, Gracey had been out with friends at the nightclub Shôko before becoming separated from the group. He did not return to his Airbnb, located on Ronda de Sant Pere, approximately two miles from the club.
Investigators have indicated that foul play is suspected in the case, citing surveillance footage showing Gracey leaving the venue with an unidentified individual.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear as authorities continue to gather evidence.
Cavin McLay, president of the Theta Chi fraternity at the University of Alabama, where Gracey served as a chaplain, spoke publicly about the search efforts during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
“If I could speak to him right now, I’d tell him to ‘keep fighting,’” McLay said.
“We’re not going to give up. We’re going to keep looking for him, and we’re waiting for him to come to us safe.”
A 20 year old University of Alabama student, James Gracey, is missing in Barcelona. There are lots of American college kids in Spain who may know something. Please help if you can. Details below from @LawrenceBJones3 [3]: pic.twitter.com/zCcqq1sDSW [4]
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 19, 2026 [5]
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the suspect who was arrested with Gracey’s phone or provided a timeline for further updates.
The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement continues to work to locate the missing student and determine what occurred in the early morning hours following his departure from the nightclub.