The Auburn University student who mysteriously vanished in Japan has been found dead, his grieving family revealed Saturday.

James “Weston” Higginbotham’s body was discovered “in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto” by a volunteer search-and-rescue team, his heartbroken mother announced on Facebook.

“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,” wrote Nancy Higginbotham.
A young man with blonde hair smiles at the camera, wearing a white patterned shirt.The body of James “Weston” Higginbotham — who went missing on May 29 — was discovered “in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto” by a volunteer search-and-rescue team.Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham
“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words. … We will always love you, Weston.”

Higginbotham’s cause of death was not immediately clear.

The 20-year-old student, who was in Japan on a family vacation, went missing on May 29 after traveling to Kyoto’s Yamashina Ward in the eastern part of the city.

Higginbotham left his parents and brother to explore the area after butting heads with his mother over her use of ChatGPT to navigate their trip, according to CNN.

“It’s not unusual for Weston to blow off steam, go into the woods and just explore.,” Nancy told the outlet.

“That’s his happy place. But it was unusual that he turned off his location.”
Missing person poster for James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old American last seen on May 29th in Kyoto, Japan.Nancy Higginbotham wrote that her family “cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.”Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham
Hours before HIgginbotham’s body was located, the gief-stricken mom stressed that the family knew he was “out in these woods somewhere,” describing the environment as “very dense and the terrain is steep.”

Following the horrrific discovery, the family thanked those who had shared their story and aided in the search.

“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.”

SOURCE: https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/us-news/missing-auburn-student-james-higginbotham-found-dead-outside-kyoto-japan/