Missing student found dead after disappearing in Japan on family vacation, mother says

KYOTO, Japan (WAFF/Gray News) – An Auburn University student who was reported missing while on vacation in Japan with his family has been found dead.

A search effort was underway in Japan after family members said James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, went missing on May 29.

On Saturday, they confirmed that a volunteer search-and-rescue group found Higginbotham’s body in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto.

“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, shared.

Higginbotham’s family said he went to explore on his own before going missing. Police believed he went to explore local hiking trails and turned off his GPS.

Massive search teams looked for him throughout the week.

Nancy Higginbotham said the family traveled to Japan to celebrate one of their children getting straight A’s throughout high school.

The 20-year-old’s mother said the family is grateful for the time they spent together but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.

The Higginbotham family thanked everyone for their help and support.