A 20-year-old student from Auburn University in Alabama who went missing during a family vacation to Japan has been found dead, bringing a tragic end to a week-long search that drew international attention. James “Weston” Higginbotham, a junior majoring in biosystems engineering at Auburn University, was found June 6 in the mountains near Kyoto, his family said. Authorities have not yet announced the cause of death.His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, shared the news Saturday that a volunteer search and rescue team had discovered his body. “We are devastated beyond words,” Higginbotham wrote in a statement posted on Facebook. “We are forever grateful for the time we spent with sweet, precious Weston, but can’t begin to fathom what life would be like without him.”Weston visited Japan with his parents and younger brother as part of a trip to celebrate his younger brother’s high school graduation. He disappeared on May 29 after being separated from his family in the Kyoto area. Before Weston disappeared, he got into an argument with his mother over her excessive use of ChatGPT. Naturalist Weston tells his mother how much water is needed to use artificial intelligence.According to reports, surveillance video shows Weston arriving at Kyoto Yamashina Station around 8:15 pm on the day he disappeared. His phone reportedly lost network connectivity within minutes, preventing further location tracking. Investigators believe he may have traveled to nearby mountainous areas popular with hikers.Japanese authorities launched a massive search operation, deploying police, helicopters and K9 units. Search teams scoured forests and mountain roads in the Yamashina area but were unable to find him in the initial stages of the operation. The search was further complicated by difficult terrain and severe weather conditions, including heavy rain associated with the regional storm system.As the official search continued, Weston’s parents, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, walked the search area calling for the public’s assistance. Volunteers, local residents and supporters in Japan and the United States help spread information about the missing students. Auburn University also expresses sympathy and concern for the family during the search process.Authorities have not publicly disclosed the circumstances surrounding Weston’s death, and the investigation continues. As of Saturday, officials had not announced any foul play.
