The Mossos d'Esquadra continue to search for Jimmy Gracey, the young American missing in Barcelona. The Catalan Police activated on Thursday the Underwater and Maritime units at Port Olímpic to expand the operation and increase the search areas in the zone where he was last seen early Tuesday morning.
Jimmy Gracey, a third-year student at the University of Alabama and originally from Elmhurst, was taking advantage of spring break to visit friends in Europe. The young man arrived in Barcelona on Monday morning after a previous stop in Amsterdam. That same night, he went out partying in the Port Olímpic area and visited Shoko nightclub.
He went there with a friend, from whom he separated at some point in the night as he decided to stay in the venue, where he was last seen around 3 in the morning.
The Mossos d'Esquadra received the report of his disappearance that same early morning after Jimmy Gracey did not return to the Airbnb accommodation where he was staying with his friend in the city center. The regional police have opened an investigation, and one of the avenues is to search the sea area with expert divers from the force, as reported by police sources.
His mother, Therese Marren Gracey, made a plea through the social network Facebook asking for help to locate him a few hours after the report. "Has anyone seen him? Please call me or send me a message," she indicates in the post. A case with a strong media impact after the main American media outlets reported on the disappearance in Barcelona.
As detailed in the family's message, Jimmy has curly dark hair, is 1.85 meters tall, weighs 80 kilos, and that night he was wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a golden pendant with a cross.
"We ask anyone who may have seen Jimmy or has any information — no matter how small — to please contact at +1 224.505.3886. Jimmy is a kind, responsible son and brother, very close to his family. It is completely out of character for him not to have been in touch with his family and friends," emphasizes the family in the statement released.
His mother has explained that the Catalan police have her son's mobile phone, information that the Mossos have not confirmed.