The search for missing Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday when volunteers located his body in a mountainous region outside Kyoto, Japan.

Weston, 20, had been missing for more than a week after disappearing during a family vacation. His family confirmed the devastating news in a statement shared on social media.

“Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” the family wrote.

No official cause of death has been announced.

Weston vanished on May 29 while traveling in Japan with his parents and brother. According to his family, he left on his own to explore Kyoto after an argument with his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, over her use of ChatGPT to help organize the trip. Weston, who was passionate about environmental conservation, reportedly disagreed with the growing use of artificial intelligence because of concerns about the energy and natural resources required to operate such technology.

He was last seen in Kyoto’s Yamashina district, an area known for its forested trails and mountainous terrain.

Japanese authorities launched a large-scale search effort shortly after his disappearance. More than 100 police officers, along with K-9 units and helicopters, spent 72 hours searching the heavily wooded region where Weston was believed to have gone. The official operation ended Friday without success.

Refusing to give up, Weston’s family organized a private search the following day. Working alongside local residents and a hired search-and-rescue team, they focused on sections of the Yamashina forests that had not been included in the police search.

Earlier Saturday, Nancy Higginbotham shared an emotional message on Facebook, writing, “We know he is out in these woods somewhere.”

Later that same day, a volunteer search-and-rescue group located Weston’s body in the mountains outside Kyoto.

Following the discovery, the family thanked the countless people who had supported them throughout the search and helped spread awareness of Weston’s disappearance.

“The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives,” the family said. “Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever. We will always love you, Weston.”