The Higginbotham family from Birmingham, Alabama, is tirelessly searching for their son, James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student who went missing in Japan. Weston disappeared while exploring Kyoto alone, following a disagreement with his mother over the use of AI for navigation.

Timeline of Events

The family arrived in Japan to celebrate the high school graduation of Weston’s younger brother, visiting several cities before reaching Kyoto. After a meal and some sightseeing, Weston decided to explore the city alone. His parents tracked his movements via the Life360 app, noting his visits to several stores before his location was turned off, which was unusual for him.

Police last saw Weston on CCTV footage walking alone in the Yamashina area, a mountainous region near hiking trails. The family reported him missing to local authorities early the next morning.

Search Efforts

Despite a storm hindering initial search efforts, police conducted a 72-hour search with over 100 officers, K-9 units, and helicopters. However, the search was scaled back, prompting the family to continue their efforts independently. They have enlisted local residents and a hired search and rescue team to comb the forests of Yamashina.

The family has also been in contact with the US Embassy and the FBI, which has offered assistance. A GoFundMe campaign created by their community back home supports their ongoing search efforts.

The family remains in Japan, determined not to leave until they find Weston. They have expanded their search to cover a 5-mile radius from where he was last seen, hoping to find any clues to his whereabouts.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.