An intensive search for missing American student James “Weston” Higginbotham has ended in tragedy after volunteers discovered his body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan, several days after he disappeared during a family vacation.
Higginbotham, a 20-year-old student at Auburn University, was found deceased on Saturday by a volunteer search-and-rescue team, according to a statement released by his family.
“Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto,” the family said. “The grief we feel is impossible to put into words.”
Weston had been traveling in Japan with his parents and brother when he disappeared on May 29. According to family members, he left on his own to explore Kyoto after a disagreement with his mother regarding the use of ChatGPT and the environmental resources required to power artificial intelligence systems.
Using the Life360 location-sharing app, Weston’s family tracked his movements as he traveled by train and visited several stores throughout the day. When his parents texted to ask where he was headed, his location-sharing feature was suddenly turned off, a move his mother described as highly unusual.
Authorities later reviewed surveillance footage showing Weston walking alone in Kyoto’s Yamashina district. The footage placed him on a route leading toward hiking trails and forested mountains outside the city.
Because of Weston’s love of nature and hiking, police concentrated search efforts in the nearby wilderness. However, severe weather complicated the operation after strong winds and heavy rainfall struck the region on the night of May 30.
Japanese authorities conducted an extensive 72-hour search involving more than 100 police officers, search dogs, and helicopters. Despite covering large sections of the mountainous terrain, the official search concluded on Friday without locating the missing student.
Determined to continue looking, the Higginbotham family organized additional search efforts on Saturday with assistance from local residents and a private search-and-rescue team. Volunteers focused on areas that had not been thoroughly examined during the police operation.
Earlier that day, Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, expressed hope that her son would be found, writing on social media, “We know he is out in these woods somewhere.”
Hours later, volunteers located Weston’s body, bringing the search to a heartbreaking conclusion.
The family thanked supporters around the world who shared information, offered prayers, and assisted with search efforts.
“The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives,” the family said. “Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever. We will always love you, Weston.”
Authorities have not publicly released additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding Higginbotham’s death, and investigations are expected to continue.
