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Descriptions circulated by the family say Gracey was wearing a white T-shirt, dark trousers or joggers, and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross when he was last seen. He is described as about 6ft 1in tall and weighing roughly 175lb. His aunt, Beth Marren O’Reilly, said the family wanted anyone who might have encountered him that night to come forward, telling NBC News via People: “It’s one of those things you think isn’t going to happen to your family but right now we just really want to get the word out, get his picture out there and just beg anybody that might have seen him the other night or ran into him and are afraid because they were doing something they shouldn’t have, just please come forward.”
The University of Alabama has confirmed that Gracey is a student and said staff were supporting those close to him. In statements reported by NBC Chicago and People, a university spokesperson said: “James Paul Gracey is a UA student on a personal trip,” adding that university staff were in touch with the family “to offer support and assistance in any way possible.” Campus reporting by The Crimson White said Gracey is a junior majoring in accounting, while University of Alabama records show a James Gracey from Elmhurst on the dean’s list for the fall 2025 term. Friends have also said he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity.
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