In a heartbreaking case that has gripped families across America and Japan, 20-year-old James “Weston” Higginbotham, a promising Auburn University student, has been missing since May 29 during what was supposed to be a joyful family vacation celebrating his younger brother’s high school graduation.
The Higginbothams had flown all the way from Alabama to Japan on May 25, filled with excitement for a memorable trip filled with cultural experiences, family bonding, and new adventures in a foreign land. But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare.
According to a Facebook post shared by his devoted mom Nancy, the family last saw Weston in their H๏τel room on Friday, May 29. Tensions had been building during the trip, and after some bickering with each other, the family made the decision to separate for a bit of breathing room.
“He just needed time by himself, just like we all did,” Nancy told Fox News, her voice heavy with emotion. “We just needed some separation.”
Weston arrived at Kyoto train station on Friday around 8:15 p.m. local time, Nancy shared on Facebook. Local police have confirmed that he got off the train at Yamashina station in Kyoto that same fateful night. But just minutes later, at 8:29 p.m., his phone lost network connection — cutting off the family’s ability to track him through the Life360 app they had been relying on to stay connected during their travels.
Nancy revealed that the family repeatedly tried texting Weston, but the messages failed to go through, sending waves of panic through the group as the hours ticked by with no word from their son.
In a Facebook update shared on Tuesday, June 2, Nancy said she and her husband Keith, Weston’s dad, have been actively searching for him around the clock, refusing to give up hope even as exhaustion set in.
However, their efforts were severely hampered by a powerful typhoon that swept through the region, bringing torrential rains, strong winds, and dangerous conditions that complicated ground searches and limited visibility for rescue teams.
On Wednesday, June 3, Nancy shared another emotional update: “50 police officers, K9s, and helicopters” had been deployed to scour a heavily wooded area near Weston’s last known location in Yamashina. The mᴀssive operation involved dogs sniffing through dense underbrush and helicopters buzzing overhead, but by the end of the day, there was still no sign of Weston.
The search resumed on Thursday, June 4, with renewed determination, yet Nancy later posted that her son still had not been found, leaving the family in a state of anguished uncertainty.
Auburn University issued a statement expressing deep concern for their missing junior biosystems engineering major.
“Our thoughts are with Weston, his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time,” a university spokesperson said. “University officials have reached out to the family and offered support.”
They added: “Out of respect for the family’s privacy and ongoing efforts to locate Weston, the university has no further comment.”
Weston’s parents told Fox News that this kind of disappearance is completely out of character for their son. “We stay very well connected,” Keith said, noting that family members always know where each other are “at all times.”
Nancy described her son’s last known outfit in detail, hoping it would help jog memories: a white T-shirt that says “save the bees,” lavender corduroy pants with a larger cuff at the bottom, two silver hoop earrings, and some beat-up Adidas shoes.
While she previously hinted on social media that her son might be experiencing some emotional distress, Nancy stressed to Fox News that it is “not abnormal” for a young man of his age to want some personal space away from family during a stressful trip.
“He can survive, and we are going to find him,” Nancy said with a mother’s unwavering determination.
As the search enters its second week, authorities in Japan continue to comb the area while the family clings to hope that Weston will be found safe. Friends, classmates, and well-wishers from Auburn University and beyond have flooded social media with prayers and support, turning this personal family crisis into a story capturing international attention.
The family continues to plead for any information that could help bring Weston home.