Auburn student found dead near Kyoto after search

June 8, 2026

1–2 minutes

Summary

James "Weston" Higginbotham, 20, was found dead near Kyoto after disappearing during a family trip to Japan, his family said.

Why this matters

The case drew attention in Alabama and Japan as family, police and volunteers searched for a missing American student abroad. It also underscores the challenges of cross-border missing-person searches in remote terrain.

An Auburn University student who went missing during a family trip to Japan was found dead Saturday in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, his family said.

James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, disappeared May 29 after leaving his parents and brother to explore Kyoto alone, his family said. The cause of death was under investigation.

His mother told CNN that Higginbotham left after a disagreement over her use of ChatGPT, and the natural resources required to operate artificial intelligence tools, to help navigate the trip.

Using the Life360 app, his parents tracked him boarding a train and visiting several stores, the family said. After they texted to ask where he was going, his location sharing was turned off, which his mother said was unusual.

CCTV footage last showed Higginbotham walking alone in Kyoto’s Yamashina area on a path leading to a hiking trail in nearby woods. Police began searching the forest June 2, citing the location of the camera and his interest in hiking, but storms with strong winds and heavy rain hampered the effort, the family said.

A 72-hour police search ended Friday after involving more than 100 officers, dogs and helicopters, according to the family. On Saturday, the family began its own search with local residents and a hired search-and-rescue team in parts of the Yamashina forest not covered by police.

His mother described him as devoted to the environment, hiking and travel. Higginbotham, a Hoover native and Spain Park High School graduate, was studying sustainability engineering at Auburn, she said.

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