Overview
- James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University junior, left his family in Kyoto and was last tracked on May 29 before his phone lost signal later that evening.
- Life360 location data, train records and CCTV show he left the hotel, took a train to the Yamashina area and walked toward trails that lead into nearby forested mountains.
- Heavy rain and Typhoon Janmi slowed official searches that deployed more than 50 to 100 officers, K-9 units and helicopters while volunteers and the family mounted additional private search efforts.
- A volunteer search-and-rescue group located his body on June 6 in a mountainous area outside Kyoto and Kyoto police have since identified him and said they do not suspect foul play.
- Authorities are withholding the cause of death pending forensic work, the family has mourned publicly and Auburn University and U.S. consular officials have offered condolences as the investigation continues.