The family of Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham is grieving after the 20-year-old was found dead in Japan, bringing a heartbreaking end to a search that lasted more than a week.

Weston disappeared on May 29 while traveling in the Kyoto area with his family. On Saturday, June 6, his parents confirmed that a volunteer search-and-rescue team had located his body in a mountainous region outside the city.

Family Announces Tragic News

Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, shared the devastating update in a statement posted on Facebook.

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

“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.”

The family did not release additional information about the circumstances surrounding his death, and authorities have not yet announced a cause of death.

Search Effort Faced Difficult Conditions

Weston was last seen on May 29 near Kyoto’s Yamashina area after becoming separated from his family.

In the days that followed, Japanese authorities launched a large-scale search involving police officers, helicopters, and search teams. Volunteers and supporters from both Japan and the United States also joined efforts to locate the missing college student.

According to his family, they were initially able to follow some of Weston’s movements through the Life360 location-sharing app. The tracking data showed him near a river and later on a train before his location suddenly stopped updating.

Investigators later focused their search on a mountainous forest region near Yamashina, where they believed Weston may have traveled.

The operation became increasingly challenging as heavy rain and severe weather associated with a typhoon swept through the area, making trails slippery and difficult to navigate.

Family Thanks Supporters

Following the discovery of Weston’s body, Nancy thanked the many people who helped during the search and offered support to the family.

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

She expressed gratitude to people across the United States, Japan, and other parts of the world who shared information about Weston, prayed for his safe return, and assisted with search efforts.

“Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support. We will need them now more than ever. We will always love you, Weston,” she added.

Disappearance Followed Family Argument

During the search, the Higginbotham family revealed that Weston had walked away after a disagreement during the vacation.

Nancy previously told NBC News that the argument involved her use of ChatGPT while planning activities and finding restaurants during the trip.

Weston, a biosystems engineering student at Auburn University, was passionate about sustainability and environmental issues. According to his mother, he had concerns about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence technology and society’s growing reliance on it.

His family later said they worried he may have been emotionally distressed when he left on his own.

Last Known Movements

Authorities said Weston left his hotel area on May 29 and was later seen near Yamashina Station.

Investigators believed he may have entered a heavily wooded mountain area outside Kyoto. Nancy previously said the region contained water sources but very limited access to food, raising concerns about how long someone could survive if injured or lost.

The steep terrain, dense forests, and severe weather complicated efforts to locate him.

Family Requests Privacy

As they begin mourning the loss of their son, the Higginbotham family has asked for privacy.

“We shared our story here and in the media in the hope of finding Weston,” Nancy wrote. “We now ask for privacy as we begin to navigate this unimaginable loss.”

The family has not announced funeral arrangements, and officials have not released further details regarding the cause of Weston’s death.