An American college student who went missing throughout a household trip in Japan has been found lifeless by search-and-rescue volunteers, marking a tragic finish to a frantic dayslong search throughout forested mountains.
James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old junior at Auburn University and a passionate environmentalist, was touring in the Kyoto space together with his household when he vanished whereas exploring the metropolis alone – shortly after having a disagreement together with his mom over her use of AI to assist with navigation, and the pure assets such a device requires.
After authorities scaled again assets from the search, the household launched its personal efforts to find Weston with the assist of native residents and a privately employed search-and-rescue group.
Here’s a timeline of the occasions main as much as the discovery of Weston’s physique:
Nancy and Keith Higginbotham present a image of their 20-year-old son James, who goes by “Weston.” – Clipped From Video
May 22
The household, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, arrives in Japan to have a good time the highschool commencement of Weston’s youthful brother. They go to a quantity of cities, together with Tokyo, Nikko and Takayama, earlier than heading to Kyoto.
May 29
The household arrives in Kyoto, the place they take pleasure in a meal and stroll round city earlier than heading to their lodge to relaxation and regroup. At some level, Weston clashes together with his mom over her use of ChatGPT, and decides to discover Kyoto by himself whereas the relaxation of the household visits a close by temple.
Using the Life360 app to trace his location, his mother and father see Weston get on a practice and go to a number of shops. They textual content him to ask the place he’s going, and his location is turned off shortly afterward, which was out of character for him, his mom mentioned.
Around 6 p.m.: Weston leaves Kyoto Station alone, in accordance with police.
Around 8 p.m.: In the final sighting of Weston, CCTV footage captured him strolling alone in the Yamashina space, which lies on the border between Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. The space is mountainous and closely forested, and the CCTV digital camera was on a path resulting in mountain climbing trails.
James “Weston” Higginbotham has lots of expertise outdoor as his household usually goes mountain biking, mountain climbing and white water rafting collectively, in accordance with this mom. – Higginbotham Family
May 30
Around 2 a.m.: The household stories Weston missing to native authorities.
In the days that comply with, Nancy begins a social media marketing campaign to lift consciousness and search for leads, together with posting on Reddit and Facebook.
June 2
The info from CCTV cameras, captured on May 29, was not confirmed till June 2. Given the digital camera’s location close to the path and Weston’s love of mountain climbing, police determined to look the forest, however have been hindered by a storm that introduced wind and heavy rain to the area that night time.
June 3
Police start looking out the mountains close to Yamashina with dozens of officers, a helicopter, and police canine.
Officials cited issues for Weston’s security throughout the storm if he was in the mountains at the time – although they added it’s attainable he had already moved out of the space.
June 4
The police search continues, centered on the forests of Yamashina.
The household has been in contact with the US Embassy in Japan and the FBI, Nancy mentioned. The FBI informed NCS it’s “ready to assist our international partners with any requests for assistance.”
The household will keep in Japan till they discover Weston, Nancy mentioned, with assist from a GoFundMe created by neighborhood members again residence.
June 5
A 72-hour police search of the densely wooded space the place Weston was final noticed strolling towards ends, in accordance with the household. The search concerned greater than 100 law enforcement officials, Okay-9s and helicopters.
The police investigation continues as regulation enforcement collects CCTV footage and displays for financial institution card exercise, the household tells NCS.
The household pronounces plans to rent their very own search and rescue workforce and enlist the assist of volunteers, significantly these with expertise mountain climbing difficult terrain, to proceed the seek for Weston.
Weston’s father, Keith Higginbotham, hikes about eight miles into the Higashiyama mountain vary to arrange for the search and “get a good lay of the land.”
June 6
The Higginbothams meet with native residents and a employed search and rescue workforce at a native espresso store. From there they launch their very own search efforts, centered on areas of the forests of Yamashina that police didn’t search, in accordance with the household.
“We know he is out in these woods somewhere,” Nancy writes in an preliminary update on Facebook Saturday morning.
Late that night time, the household posts an replace that Weston has been found lifeless by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous space exterior of Kyoto.
“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” the household says.
There isn’t any foul play suspected in Weston’s dying, police in Kyoto say, including that they won’t disclose a trigger.
For extra NCS information and newsletters create an account at NCS.com