The search for missing Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham ended in tragedy Saturday after search teams located his body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan.

Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, confirmed the devastating news in a Facebook post, sharing the family’s heartbreak after days of searching for the 20-year-old college student.

“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words. 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,” she wrote.

Nancy also expressed gratitude to the countless volunteers, organizations, and supporters who helped search for her son and shared his story in hopes of bringing him home safely.

“The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives,” she said.

Authorities have not yet announced a cause of death, and it remains unclear exactly how Weston died.

Disappearance During Family Trip

Weston, an Auburn University student, was last confirmed to be in the Kyoto area on May 29 while traveling in Japan with his family.

According to relatives, he separated from his parents after a disagreement with his mother regarding her use of ChatGPT to help plan portions of their vacation. Weston reportedly had concerns about the environmental impact and resource consumption associated with artificial intelligence technology.

After leaving on his own, he headed toward the mountainous region surrounding Kyoto to explore the area.

Investigators later confirmed that Weston made a purchase at a Kohnan hardware store in Kyoto, and family members believed he may have boarded a local train shortly afterward.

One detail that immediately concerned his family was the fact that he turned off his phone’s location-sharing feature, something they described as highly unusual behavior for him.

Search Complicated By Harsh Conditions

Japanese authorities initially treated the case as a missing-person investigation and stated there was no evidence suggesting criminal activity.

Search efforts focused on the rugged mountains near Kyoto, where Weston was believed to have gone hiking. However, those efforts became increasingly difficult after a typhoon moved through the region, bringing severe weather that complicated searches of trails and heavily wooded areas.

The terrain itself presented additional challenges. The forests are known for dense vegetation, steep slopes, and difficult hiking routes. Family members noted that fatalities occur in the mountainous region every year because of the dangerous conditions.

After police completed their search of the mountains, they informed Weston’s parents that active field operations had concluded, though investigators would continue pursuing other leads.

Family Organized Additional Search Efforts

Determined to continue looking for their son, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham received permission to organize their own volunteer search operation.

Working alongside local residents and volunteer rescuers, the family searched portions of the mountains that had not been fully covered during earlier efforts.

Throughout the investigation, the family also sought to correct reports suggesting police believed Weston had intentionally disappeared. Nancy and Keith Higginbotham publicly stated that such claims were inaccurate and did not reflect what authorities had communicated to them.

Their search ultimately ended Saturday when search teams discovered Weston’s body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto.

The heartbreaking discovery brought an end to days of uncertainty and an international effort that drew attention from supporters in both Japan and the United States.

As family, friends, and members of the Auburn University community mourn his loss, many continue to remember Weston as a young man whose love of nature and adventurous spirit inspired those around him.