The family of James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old student from Auburn University, is conducting their own search efforts in Japan after his disappearance. Weston, who was traveling with his family in the Kyoto area, went missing after a disagreement with his mother over the use of AI technology for navigation.

Timeline of Events

The Higginbothams, from Birmingham, Alabama, arrived in Japan to celebrate the graduation of Weston’s younger brother. During their stay, Weston decided to explore Kyoto alone after a disagreement with his mother about AI technology. His parents used an app to track his location, but his phone was turned off shortly after he left Kyoto Station alone.

Weston was last seen on CCTV footage walking in the Yamashina area, a mountainous region on the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. The family reported him missing to local authorities, and a police search commenced, involving officers, K-9 units, and helicopters. However, the search was hampered by a storm.

Despite the police scaling back their search, the family, with the help of local residents and a hired search and rescue team, continues to search the forests of Yamashina. They are also in contact with the US Embassy and the FBI, which has offered assistance.

Community Support

The Higginbothams have received support from their community back home, including a GoFundMe campaign to aid their efforts. They plan to stay in Japan until Weston is found, demonstrating the family’s commitment and the importance of community support in times of crisis.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.