The search for a missing Auburn University student in Japan continues after his family said his phone location unexpectedly went offline shortly before he disappeared, a development they describe as highly unusual and deeply concerning.James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, of Alabama, was last confirmed in the Kyoto area on May 29 while traveling in Japan with his family. Japanese authorities continue to investigate the case as a missing persons matter and have said there is currently no evidence of criminal activity.Higginbotham’s family says the last clue to his whereabouts came through the location-sharing app Life360, which he routinely used to share his location with relatives. According to his father, Keith Higginbotham, the family watched as Weston traveled by train and visited several stores before his location abruptly disappeared.”The location was turned off,” Keith Higginbotham told CNN. “That was so out of character.”Family members said Weston had never previously disabled location sharing. When hours passed without hearing from him, they reported him missing to local authorities.The disappearance began during a family vacation in Kyoto. According to his parents, Weston and his mother had a disagreement over the use of ChatGPT to help navigate the trip. Wanting some time alone, Weston decided to explore the city independently.His father said spending time outdoors and exploring unfamiliar places was typical behavior for Weston, an avid hiker and environmental engineering student at Auburn University.”It’s not unusual for Weston to blow off steam going to the woods and just exploring,” Keith Higginbotham told CNN. “That’s his happy place.”Investigators later reconstructed his movements using surveillance footage and transaction records. Authorities confirmed Higginbotham made a purchase at a Kohnan hardware store before traveling east from Kyoto. Family members believe he was using local rail lines connected to the Biwako and Kosei routes.The trail eventually led investigators to the Yamashina area, east of central Kyoto. The district sits near the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures and is surrounded by mountainous terrain, including heavily forested sections of the Higashiyama mountain range.Search efforts have since concentrated near Bishamondo, a temple area in Yamashina where authorities believe they have identified his last known location.Police and emergency personnel have searched the area on foot, with K-9 teams and helicopters assisting in the effort. The search has been complicated by severe weather after a typhoon moved through the region Tuesday, making trails and wooded areas more difficult to navigate.Japanese volunteers have also joined the effort, helping distribute flyers, translate for the family and coordinate searches.Keith Higginbotham said his son should be easy to notice, so it’s about telling people to look for him.”They can potentially see him when he walks by because he stands out in a crowd, because he looks nothing like everyone else here with his blond hair and his height,” he said. “So he is easy to locate if you just know to look for him. So getting it front of more people here so that they know to look for him is is key.”The FBI said it stands ready to assist international authorities if requested. The U.S. State Department has also been contacted regarding the case.Despite the uncertainty, Higginbotham’s parents remain hopeful.”We have all the hope that he’s going to be found somewhere,” Keith Higginbotham said. “Until we find him, one way or another, he’s out there, he’s moving somewhere, and we’re going to find him.”WVTM 13 received a photo Thursday from someone whose son is traveling through Asia right now. He saw someone in a club in Korea who looked very similar to Weston and took a picture, which is now being forwarded to the FBI.Those who know Weston don’t believe it is him in this photo, but are glad the messaging is getting out to people in Asia and they seem to actively be looking for him.This article contains information from CNN.
KYOTO, Kyoto —
The search for a missing Auburn University student in Japan continues after his family said his phone location unexpectedly went offline shortly before he disappeared, a development they describe as highly unusual and deeply concerning.
James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, of Alabama, was last confirmed in the Kyoto area on May 29 while traveling in Japan with his family. Japanese authorities continue to investigate the case as a missing persons matter and have said there is currently no evidence of criminal activity.
Higginbotham’s family says the last clue to his whereabouts came through the location-sharing app Life360, which he routinely used to share his location with relatives. According to his father, Keith Higginbotham, the family watched as Weston traveled by train and visited several stores before his location abruptly disappeared.
“The location was turned off,” Keith Higginbotham told CNN. “That was so out of character.”
Family members said Weston had never previously disabled location sharing. When hours passed without hearing from him, they reported him missing to local authorities.
The disappearance began during a family vacation in Kyoto. According to his parents, Weston and his mother had a disagreement over the use of ChatGPT to help navigate the trip. Wanting some time alone, Weston decided to explore the city independently.
His father said spending time outdoors and exploring unfamiliar places was typical behavior for Weston, an avid hiker and environmental engineering student at Auburn University.
“It’s not unusual for Weston to blow off steam going to the woods and just exploring,” Keith Higginbotham told CNN. “That’s his happy place.”
Investigators later reconstructed his movements using surveillance footage and transaction records. Authorities confirmed Higginbotham made a purchase at a Kohnan hardware store before traveling east from Kyoto. Family members believe he was using local rail lines connected to the Biwako and Kosei routes.
The trail eventually led investigators to the Yamashina area, east of central Kyoto. The district sits near the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures and is surrounded by mountainous terrain, including heavily forested sections of the Higashiyama mountain range.
Search efforts have since concentrated near Bishamondo, a temple area in Yamashina where authorities believe they have identified his last known location.
Police and emergency personnel have searched the area on foot, with K-9 teams and helicopters assisting in the effort. The search has been complicated by severe weather after a typhoon moved through the region Tuesday, making trails and wooded areas more difficult to navigate.
Japanese volunteers have also joined the effort, helping distribute flyers, translate for the family and coordinate searches.
Keith Higginbotham said his son should be easy to notice, so it’s about telling people to look for him.
“They can potentially see him when he walks by because he stands out in a crowd, because he looks nothing like everyone else here with his blond hair and his height,” he said. “So he is easy to locate if you just know to look for him. So getting it front of more people here so that they know to look for him is is key.”
The FBI said it stands ready to assist international authorities if requested. The U.S. State Department has also been contacted regarding the case.
Despite the uncertainty, Higginbotham’s parents remain hopeful.
“We have all the hope that he’s going to be found somewhere,” Keith Higginbotham said. “Until we find him, one way or another, he’s out there, he’s moving somewhere, and we’re going to find him.”
WVTM 13 received a photo Thursday from someone whose son is traveling through Asia right now. He saw someone in a club in Korea who looked very similar to Weston and took a picture, which is now being forwarded to the FBI.
Those who know Weston don’t believe it is him in this photo, but are glad the messaging is getting out to people in Asia and they seem to actively be looking for him.
This article contains information from CNN.
AloJapan.com