KYOTO, Japan — The search for James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student who went missing while traveling in Japan with his family, has ended in tragedy.
Higginbotham, a junior studying biosystems engineering at Auburn University, was found deceased in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, according to a statement released by his family on Saturday. The discovery brings a heartbreaking conclusion to a search effort that drew international attention and mobilized volunteers, local authorities, and supporters across multiple countries.
In a message shared publicly, Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, confirmed the devastating news and expressed the family’s profound grief.
“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 statement read. “The grief we feel is impossible to put into words.”
The family described Weston as a cherished son whose loss has left an immeasurable void.
“We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like,” they wrote.
Weston disappeared on May 29 while visiting Japan with family members. Authorities later traced his last known movements to Kyoto’s Yamashina district, an area that serves as a gateway to several hiking routes and mountainous terrain. Investigators believed he may have ventured onto a hiking trail before losing contact.
According to reports, Weston had separated from family members before his disappearance. His case quickly gained widespread attention on social media and in international news coverage, prompting an extensive search involving Japanese authorities, volunteer rescue teams, local residents, and family supporters.
Thousands of people across the United States, Japan, and other countries shared missing-person alerts online in hopes of helping locate the Auburn student safely. The family’s appeals for assistance resonated widely, generating an outpouring of support from strangers and communities around the world.
In their statement, the Higginbotham family expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the search effort.
“We are deeply grateful to the countless people across the United States, Japan, and around the world who shared Weston’s story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement, and helped in the search efforts,” they wrote. “The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives.”
The family also requested privacy as they begin mourning their loss.
As of Saturday, authorities had not released an official cause of death, and investigators have not publicly disclosed additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding Weston’s death. Further information is expected to be released following the completion of official examinations and investigative procedures.
The Auburn University community and supporters worldwide continue to remember Weston Higginbotham, whose disappearance sparked an extraordinary international effort and whose loss is now being mourned by family, friends, classmates, and countless individuals who followed the search with hope.