Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
- James "Weston" Higginbotham, an Auburn University student, was found dead June 3.
- His disappearance during a family vacation in Kyoto led to a dayslong search.
- The Auburn community and Alabama leaders mourned Higginbotham's tragic loss and praised his character.
KYOTO, Japan — Search-and-rescue volunteers in Japan have found the body of an Auburn University student who went missing during a family vacation, his family said, marking a tragic end to a frantic dayslong search across forested mountains.
James "Weston" Higginbotham, 20, was found dead Saturday outside Kyoto, his family announced in a social media post.
Police in Kyoto told CNN Weston's body was found about 2:35 p.m. Saturday by volunteers searching the mountains in the city's Yamashina area. No foul play is suspected, police added, noting they will not disclose a cause of death.
"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.
A passionate naturalist, Higginbotham vanished May 29 after leaving his parents and brother to explore Kyoto on his own after butting heads with his mother over her use of ChatGPT – and the natural resources such AI requires – to navigate their trip.
Using the Life360 app to track his location, his parents saw that Higginbotham got on a train and visited several stores. They texted him to ask where he was going, and his location was turned off shortly afterward, which was out of character for him, his mother said.
Higginbotham was last seen on CCTV footage walking alone in the city's Yamashina area, on a path that led to a hiking trail in the nearby woods.
Given the camera's location near the trail and Higginbotham's love of hiking, police decided on June 2 to search the forest, but were hindered by a storm that brought wind and heavy rain to the region that night.
Officials cited concerns for Higginbotham's safety during the storm should he have been in the mountains at the time.
A 72-hour police search of the densely wooded area Higginbotham was last spotted walking toward ended Friday, according to the family. The search involved more than 100 police officers, K-9s and helicopters.
On Saturday, the Higginbothams launched their own search efforts, with help from local residents and a hired search-and-rescue team to focus on areas of the forests of Yamashina that police did not search, according to the family.
Following the discovery of Higginbotham's body, 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. We will always love you, Weston."
University community and local leaders pay tribute
Following news of Higginbotham's death, Auburn University President Christopher Roberts said the community lost "a valued member of the Auburn family."
"On behalf of Auburn University, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of James 'Weston' Higginbotham, who died while traveling in Japan," Roberts said in a statement to CNN.
"The Auburn family mourns this heartbreaking loss and holds Weston's family, friends and loved ones close in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time."
Higginbotham was a Hoover, Alabama, native who graduated from Spain Park High School, Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis said in a social media post, adding the north central Alabama community is "heartbroken" over the news.
"Over the past several days, Hoover residents came together in prayer and hope for Weston's safe return," Derzis said. "Today, our hearts are with the Higginbotham family as they face an unimaginable loss."
Higginbotham was a "young man of remarkable character" who "touched everyone who knew him," the mayor said. "His loss is a tragedy felt across our entire community," Derzis said.
U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville also mourned Higginbotham's death on social media.
"Please join us in praying for James's family, friends, and loved ones as they, and all of Alabama, mourn this tragic loss," Britt said in the statement.
State Rep. Susan DuBose paid tribute, saying, "Our community of Greystone, Hoover, North Shelby County and beyond have been praying for this family and the safe return of Weston. May God be with this precious family."
Higginbotham loved to 'embed himself in different cultures'
Higginbotham's mother, Nancy Higginbotham, described him as an ardent protector of the environment and a wanderer who loved to travel and enjoy nature.
"He just loves to go outside and go for a walk at a trail or go for a small hike, no matter what time of day," she told CNN's Erin Burnett Friday. "That's just fun to him."
As a lover of the natural world, Higginbotham had spent his life protecting it, too. That became more of a focus for him about a year ago, when Higginbotham became vegan. As a junior at Auburn University, Higginbotham had been studying sustainability engineering, she said.
Higginbotham was always educating himself "about the world" and reading books every chance he had, his mother said. On the trip, Higginbotham had been carrying a book about butterflies in his back pocket.
"His goal in life is to travel…and go to all of these amazing mountains and places where he can embed himself in different cultures," Nancy Higginbotham said.
