An Alabama student who was reported missing in Japan has been tragically found deceased, as confirmed by his deeply saddened mother.
Nancy Higginbotham shared the heartbreaking news of her 20-year-old son, James ‘Weston’ Higginbotham’s passing in a heartfelt post on Facebook. She revealed that his body was discovered outside Kyoto after an extensive search by a volunteer group.
Expressing her profound grief, Nancy stated, “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.”
She further expressed gratitude to all those who supported and prayed for their family during the search efforts across the US, Japan, and beyond, as reported by the Mirror US.
Regarding the circumstances of his death, Weston, who had traveled to Japan to celebrate his brother’s graduation, was last seen on May 29. His mother mentioned that he was emotionally distressed and the family had disagreements before he went missing.
Nancy explained that they had decided to separate temporarily as they had been arguing while sharing a hotel room. She described how her son enjoyed spending time alone in nature, particularly hiking.
Using the Life360 app, the family tracked Weston’s movements before losing contact with him near a river, after visiting shops, and boarding a local train. The last confirmed sighting of him was captured on CCTV footage disembarking a train at Yamashina Station.
The circumstances leading to Weston’s death remain unclear, leaving his family and loved ones devastated. The community’s support and kindness have been a source of solace during this challenging time.
