Share and Follow
An Alabama college student has gone missing in Japan during a family vacation, prompting his parents to seek assistance as local authorities and K-9 units conduct a thorough search of the area’s forested paths.
James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old attending Auburn University, was last in contact with his family on May 29, as reported by his mother, Nancy Higginbotham.
“We are living through a nightmare,” Nancy expressed on social media. “He hasn’t disappeared after a night of partying. The police have verified this. I urge everyone to be compassionate. I’m already enduring immense sorrow.”
After analyzing CCTV recordings, police identified Weston’s last verified presence at Yamashina Station, located to the east of Kyoto. This area is known for its scenic hiking routes, temples, and wooded trails, including pathways that lead to Mount Otowa and the Kyoto Trail network.
Weston Higginbotham, 20, was last known to be at Yamashina Station, east of Kyoto, during a family trip, according to his mother. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham)
His mother said his phone last showed activity shortly after he arrived at Kyoto Station around 8:15 p.m. before losing network service minutes later.
Family members believe Weston may have boarded a local train heading east before getting off at Yamashina. An experienced hiker and environmental engineering student, he may have intentionally sought out nearby nature trails, his mother said.
His family believes he may have been seeking nearby nature trails when he went missing on May 29. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham )
She added that Weston may have been emotionally distressed at the time he went missing.
“If you see him, PLEASE DO NOT POST HIS EXACT LOCATION PUBLICLY. Please call local police immediately and then message me directly,” she wrote.
Japanese police escalated the search on Wednesday, organizing 50 officers, K-9 teams and helicopters to scour heavily wooded terrain near the station.
Nancy Higginbotham has praised local police in her social media posts as the officers continued to work despite severe weather sweeping through parts of the region.
She said that she and her husband searched wooded areas around Yamashina with flashlights before a typhoon moved through, but were forced to turn back because of difficult terrain and wildlife.
Weston was last seen wearing a shirt with “Save the Bees” printed on the back, lavender corduroy pants and white Adidas sneakers with black stripes, according to his mother. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham )
Weston is described as standing 6 feet 1 inch tall with long blond hair and blue eyes. His mother said he was last seen wearing a shirt with “Save the Bees” printed on the back, lavender corduroy pants and white Adidas sneakers with black stripes. He was carrying a shoulder bag featuring the outline of the state of Alabama.
Despite days of searching, his family says they remain hopeful.
“We will not lose hope,” Higginbotham wrote. “We feel all of the love that you are pouring out throughout the day.”
<!–>
