Search-and-rescue volunteers in Japan have recovered the body of an American Auburn University student from the United States who had been reported missing during a family vacation, bringing a heartbreaking end to a multi-day search in the mountainous areas near Kyoto.
James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, was discovered deceased on Saturday outside Kyoto, according to a statement shared by his family on social media. Local police told CNN that the cause of death remains under investigation.
“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 grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” the family wrote.
Authorities said Higginbotham disappeared on May 29 after separating from his parents and brother while exploring Kyoto alone, following a disagreement with his mother over her use of ChatGPT and concerns about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence during their trip.
Using the Life360 tracking app, his parents were able to monitor his movements and saw that he had boarded a train and visited several shops.
They later messaged him asking where he was headed, but his location was switched off shortly afterward, something his family said was highly unusual for him.
He was last captured on CCTV walking alone in Kyoto’s Yamashina area along a route that led toward a forested hiking trail. Given his known passion for hiking, police focused their early search efforts in that direction.
Search operations began in earnest on June 2 after officials concluded he may have entered the wooded area, but efforts were hampered by severe weather, including heavy rain and strong winds that swept through the region overnight.
A 72-hour police-led search involving more than 100 officers, K-9 units, and helicopters was later called off on Friday, according to his family.
Authorities had concentrated on the dense forest surrounding the last known sighting.
On Saturday, the Higginbotham family organized an independent search with assistance from local residents and a private search-and-rescue team, focusing on sections of woodland that had not been fully covered by police teams. It was during these efforts that his body was eventually located.
Following the discovery, the family expressed gratitude to everyone who supported the search and shared information during the effort.
“The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives,” the family wrote. “Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever. We will always love you, Weston.”
Auburn University President Christopher Roberts described Higginbotham as “a valued member of the Auburn Family,” offering condolences to his loved ones and acknowledging the grief felt across the campus community.
Hoover, Alabama Mayor Nick Derzis said residents of the area where Higginbotham grew up were devastated by the news, noting that many had participated in prayers and public appeals for his safe return.
“Over the past several days, Hoover residents came together in prayer and hope for Weston’s safe return,” Derzis said. “Today, our hearts are with the Higginbotham family as they face an unimaginable loss.”
He added, “Weston was a “young man of remarkable character” who “touched everyone who knew him,” Derzis said. “His loss is a tragedy felt across our entire community.”
U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville also shared condolences online, urging support for the grieving family.
Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, remembered him as a deeply curious and nature-loving young man with a strong commitment to environmental causes.
“He just loves to go outside and go for a walk at a trail or go for a small hike, no matter what time of day,” she told CNN’s Erin Burnett Friday.
She also noted his growing passion for sustainability and education, saying he had become increasingly focused on environmental issues.
As a junior at Auburn University, he was studying sustainability engineering and was described as an avid reader and lifelong learner who often carried books on his travels.
“His goal in life is to travel…and go to all of these amazing mountains and places where he can embed himself in different cultures,” Nancy Higginbotham said.
