KYOTO, Japan (WAFF) – An Auburn University student who was reported missing while on vacation in Japan with his family was found dead.
Family confirmed in a Facebook post on Saturday that 20-year-old James “Weston” Higginbotham was found dead by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto.
“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, shared.
Higginbotham’s family said he went to explore on his own on May 29, and there was no sign of him after that.
Police believed he went to explore local hiking trails and turned off his GPS.
Massive search teams looked for him throughout the week.
Nancy Higginbotham said the family traveled to Japan to celebrate one of their children getting straight A’s throughout high school.
The 20-year-old’s mother said the family is grateful for the time they had with Weston but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.
The Higginbotham family thanked everyone for their help and support.
Below is Nancy Higginbotham’s full statement on his death:
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