Everything We Know About Auburn Student Weston Higginbotham's Disappearance in Japan

Weston Higginbotham was last seen on May 29 in Kyoto, Japan

NEED TO KNOW

• James “Weston” Higginbotham has been missing in Japan since May 29
• Weston separated from the rest of the family during a trip to Kyoto
• His phone lost connection around 8:30 p.m. the night of May 29, and he was reported missing a few hours later

James “Weston” Higginbotham has been missing in Japan since Friday, May 29.

He is 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.

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 has been sharing updates on Facebook — including that local authorities have been thoroughly searching the area of Bishamondo. However, a typhoon has made the search more difficult, according to Nancy.

“We have all the hope that he’s going to be found somewhere,” dad Keith told CNN on June 4. “He pops up at another train station, I don’t know — but until we find him, one way or another, he’s out there, he’s moving somewhere, and we’re going to find him.”

Here's what to know about the disappearance of Weston Higginbotham.

Weston is a junior at Auburn University

Weston is a 20-year-old junior at Auburn University in Alabama who is studying biosystems engineering with a passion for all things outdoors. Weston does not speak Japanese. He is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, with long blond hair and blue eyes.

"Our thoughts are with Weston, his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time," an Auburn University spokesperson said in a statement. "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 is a "lover of Mother Nature" and a vegan who has 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 hotel 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 is 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's his "happy place." Nancy clarified that Weston is 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 hotel, 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 has 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.

Weston's family reported him missing around 2 a.m.

While it wasn't unusual for Weston to relax in nature, his family became concerned when their messages stopped delivering to his phone and he remained unresponsive.

“While we were visiting a temple, Weston gets on a train,” Nancy told CNN. “We’re texting him, saying, ‘Hey, where are you?’ You know, ‘What are you doing?’ "

Nancy claimed that her son had never turned off his location before, so it was immediately "out of character." Weston's family reported him missing by 2 a.m. early the next day.

“We’re not going to leave until we find Weston,” Nancy said.

Weston's parents maintained that he "never" vanishes

Both of Weston's parents have said this is out of character for him.

“We stay very well connected, know where each other are in the family at all times, really,” Keith told Fox News. “He’s an Auburn student and even at Auburn, we know where he’s at and what he’s doing when he’s not home.”

They added that Weston has "never" disappeared like this and that he may have turned off his phone because they were "sending him too many messages asking him what he was doing or where’s he at when he left and he just wanted some time alone."

While Nancy previously wrote on Facebook that Weston may be in "emotional distress," she later told Fox News that he "can survive" in lots of conditions.

Police have been searching for Weston around Kyoto

In the days since Weston was reported missing, police have been conducting searches throughout the areas where he may have ventured.

"Today, dozens of Japanese police officers searched through waist-high mud in an effort to find Weston. Search dogs and helicopters were also deployed," Nancy wrote on Facebook on June 4.

She described the search as "extensive" and "incredibly thorough" — despite a typhoon delivering heavy rains on June 2.

"Based on what locals witnessed today, we have GREAT confidence in the professionalism and dedication of the Japanese authorities and do not believe any area within the search zone was overlooked," she continued. "They are meticulous."

Nancy wrote on Facebook that authorities are specifically searching for her son in the hills around Bishamondo, near Yamashina.

On June 5, Japanese authorities continued to search for Weston, planned to "follow up on another lead" and deploy a "smaller team to the forest," Nancy said.

"The local residents have continued to be so helpful spreading the word. People are passing out flyers at the Yashamina (sic) train station, coming to our apartment to map out our next hiking sections, and 100s of texts a day of people offering to help," she wrote.

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