Everything We Know About Auburn Student Weston Higginbotham’s Disappearance and Death in Japan

James “Weston” Higginbotham went missing in Japan on Friday, May 29, and he was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ around a week later.

Weston was a 20-year-old Auburn University student who was on vacation with his family to celebrate his younger brother’s high school graduation; they arrived in Japan on May 22 and Kyoto on May 25.

On the evening of May 29, his mother Nancy said she and Weston bickered over her use of ChatGPT to plan their trip, so Weston decided to briefly separate from them and explore Kyoto. The rest of the family continued visiting a temple together.

James “Weston” Higginbotham.

Police confirmed that Weston was on a train around 8:15 p.m. local time and got off at Yamashina station in Kyoto, according to Weston’s family. Just 14 minutes later, Weston’s phone lost connection and tracking ability via the Life360 app, which his parents use. Messages and calls were also not going through to his phone.

Throughout the search, Nancy shared updates on Facebook — including that local authorities were thoroughly searching the area of Bishamondo. However, on June 6, Nancy announced that her son had been found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

“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,” she wrote in part. “The grief we feel is impossible to put into words.”

Here’s what to know about the disappearance and death of Weston Higginbotham.

Weston was a junior at Auburn University

Weston was a 20-year-old junior at Auburn University in Alabama who was studying biosystems engineering with a pᴀssion for all things outdoors.

“Our thoughts are with Weston, his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time,” an Auburn University spokesperson said in a statement in the midst of the search. “University officials have reached out to the family and offered support.”

They later added, “Out of respect for the family’s privacy and ongoing efforts to locate Weston, the university has no further comment.”

His mom, Nancy, told CNN that her son was a “lover of Mother Nature” and a vegan who had previously gone on several outdoor adventures — including solo hiking the Pyrenees mountains, mountain biking and white water rafting.

Weston and his family arrived to Japan on May 22

Nancy told CNN that she and her husband embarked on a trip to Japan with their family to celebrate their younger son’s high school graduation beginning on May 22.

Prior to arriving in Kyoto on May 25, the family visited Tokyo and other cities in the country.

Weston’s family last saw him on May 29 before they decided to separate

Weston was last with his family members on May 29 at their H๏τel room. Weston decided to separate from his family after they started “bickering with each other,” Nancy told Fox News on June 4.

Nancy elaborated on their argument and told CNN that she got into a disagreement with Weston over his disapproval of her using ChatGPT, which uses large amounts of natural resources to run, per The Times. She told NBC News that Weston was opposed to use of artificial intelligence.

“We try never to use it and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have,” Nancy said. She told Fox News that after the argument, “He just needed time by himself, just like we all did. We just needed some separation.”

She explained to CNN that it was “not unusual for Weston to blow off steam going to the woods,” because it was his “happy place.” Nancy clarified that Weston was an experienced traveler, so she was not initially worried about him going off on his own.

At the time he left, Weston was wearing a white T-shirt with “Save the Bees” written on the back, paired with lavender corduroy pants.

Weston arrived at Kyoto train station on May 29 around 8:15 p.m. and lost phone connection 14 minutes later

After leaving the H๏τel, Weston arrived to a Kyoto train station around 8:15 p.m. local time on May 29, Nancy wrote on Facebook on June 1.

His phone then “lost network,” according to his mom. She explained to several outlets that the family uses the Life360 tracking app, and he was last located at 8:29 p.m. Camera footage confirmed that he got off the train at Yamashina station in Kyoto that same night.

At the time of his disappearance, Weston’s phone was at 34% battery and he had about 10,000 Japanese yen (about $62.50), Nancy told CNN.

“The police have narrowed it down to Weston getting off at the Yamashina station,” she wrote on June 2. “We don’t know if he got back on the train at any point.”

Nancy previously theorized that her son had a hiking destination in mind and got lost.

“He may have intentionally chosen a quiet trail from Yamashina, especially Bishamon-do, Lake Biwa Canal, Misasagi, Keage/Nanzen-ji, Kyoto Trail, Mount Otowa, or Daigo/Kami-Daigo,” she wrote.