Reports: Initial examination and surveillance footage show Alabama student fell into sea, drowned
An initial examination of the body of the University of Alabama student that was found at sea near Barcelona indicates that Jimmy Gracey drowned, according to Spanish newspaper El Periodico.
A University of Alabama student has gone missing in Spain. (Photo posted on “Students in Barcelona 2026” Facebook page)
It was conducted at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Catalonia. The examination revealed that the student had bruises from repeatedly hitting the rocks during the days between his disappearance and the discovery of his body.
Police believe thisrules out foul play and supports the conclusion of a tragic accident.
The official autopsy results will determine whether he had consumed alcohol or any other substances before falling into the water.
El Periodico states that Jimmy’s family is in Barcelona, awaiting judicial authorization to take their son’s body home for burial in his hometown of Elmhurst, Illinois.
Security camera footage from Port Olímpic and witness accounts indicated that he headed toward the breakwater alone. Officers reviewed security camera footage, which captured the moment he fell into the sea, according to El Periodico.
There are still some lines of investigation ongoing.
Police believe Jimmy left the nightclub with someone and are trying to figure out what prompted him to head toward Somorrostro Beach. Security camera footage shows him initially speaking with someone at the venue’s entrance before walking alone toward the coast.
Police also haven’t proven Jimmy’s mobile phone was stolen, according to El Periodico. A patrol from the Municipal Guard found it in the possession of a habitual offender from Barceloneta during a search early Tuesday morning. The man claimed he found it on the beach, and officers confiscated it, although they have not linked him to the theft. The police managed to unlock the phone and that’s how they contacted Jimmy’s family.
News
A FINAL DIARY ENTRY IS BREAKING HEARTS… Family members of James “Weston” Higginbotham say investigators recently questioned him about a notebook he kept, because a short passage might help explain the emotional struggle he had been hiding
The intricate and deeply harrowing narrative surrounding the disappearance, search, and ultimate discovery of James “Weston” Higginbotham has evolved into a profound psychological and forensic study that continues to challenge the foundational methods of international law enforcement and deeply affect…
HE ASKED ME IF PEOPLE EVER START OVER AGAIN… When opening James “Weston” Higginbotham’s notebook, revealing that detectives recently reviewed a very private conversation with a psychiatrist that took place less than 24 hours before he disappeared
The layers of the investigation into the disappearance of James “Weston” Higginbotham have peeled back to reveal a deeply intimate and painful narrative, shifting the focus from external physical tracking to the quiet, internal landscape the young Auburn student was…
THE FAMILY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND UNTIL THEN… James “Weston” Higginbotham’s brother said the 20-year-old had secretly left messages for each family member, and now, piecing together the events, everyone believes his death was not an accident
The intricate puzzle surrounding the tragic disappearance and ultimate discovery of James “Weston” Higginbotham continues to unravel in ways that deeply challenge the initial assumptions made by both international investigators and his closest loved ones. What began as a frantic…
“I don’t think I’m getting any better…” James “Weston” Higginbotham’s teacher said investigators recently asked about a private conversation they had about his health just 48 hours before the Auburn student went missing – and his answer is still haunting her
The narrative surrounding the disappearance of James “Weston” Higginbotham has grown increasingly complex as investigators look past his immediate steps in Japan to understand his state of mind before leaving the United States. In the latest turn of the investigation,…
Just now: Police have finally announced the cause of death for James “Weston” Higginbotham, but the seventh line, which is leaving his family in disbelief, reads, “Even if he lost his temper, he would never do that,….”. Medical records are under investigation…
The sudden loss of 20-year-old Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham in the mountainous outskirts of Kyoto, Japan, has deeply shaken his loved ones and the university community. The junior biosystems engineering student from Hoover, Alabama, tragically vanished on May…
He needs to see a doctor immediately…: A friend of James “Weston” Higginbotham said their last conversation lasted less than 10 minutes, James’s mind was becoming increasingly confused, and the symptoms of depression were unforgettable
The tragic conclusion to the search for 20-year-old Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham has left a community in deep mourning, while simultaneously opening a painful window into the hidden struggles he may have been facing. The junior biosystems engineering…
End of content
No more pages to load
