Savannah Guthrie offers $1 million reward for information about mother
The “Today” host posted an emotional video on Instagram as authorities in Arizona continue to search for his mother, Nancy.
Barcelona authorities say they have found the body of James “Jimmy” Gracie, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student who went missing after visiting a club with friends several days earlier.
Catalan police (Mossos d’Esquadra) confirmed in an email to USA TODAY on March 19 that they found his body in the water at Somorrostro Beach, just in front of the club where he was last seen, around 6pm local time. Spanish authorities identified the body as Gracie’s just before 8:45 p.m., police said.
In a previous statement, Gracie’s family called him a “kind, responsible, and dedicated son and brother,” and in a statement released after the body was identified, they thanked the public for “the kindness and consideration shown to our family.”
“We have decided to pause media interviews at this time in order to focus on being together and caring for each other,” their statement added. “Thank you for respecting our privacy and keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers. We will share updates when possible.”
In a statement to USA TODAY, the University of Alabama said it was “heartbroken” to learn of Gracie’s death and extends its “condolences to Gracie’s family.” The university added: “Jimmy’s loss is felt deeply across campus.”
What we know about Jimmy Gracie’s disappearance
On the night of March 16, Gracie went out to the Barcelona club Choco, his mother Therese Maren Gracie wrote in the public Facebook group Barcelona Expat Families. He was last seen alive in the early morning hours of March 17th.
His mother said he was visiting a friend who was studying abroad and was staying at an Airbnb near downtown Ronda de San Pere. The club he attended was about three miles southeast of where he was staying.
His mother said he was last seen around 3 a.m. by a friend who was with him at a nightclub. His friend eventually returned home, but Gracie decided to remain at the club, Barcelona newspaper El Periodico reported.
Investigators examined the nightclub’s security camera footage and found Gracie had left the club with someone, but it was unclear who that person was, the newspaper reported. Witnesses also told Catalan police that they saw Gracie walking towards the beach. Gracie never returned to the Airbnb, her mother said.
According to TV stations WBMA and El Periodico, authorities found Gracie’s wallet at sea. Catalan police did not confirm the report when contacted by USA TODAY.
