James Weston Higginbothan has been found dead.
The 20 year old missing Auburn University engineering student who disappearaed in Japan last month was found dead in a mountainous area outside Kyoto. His mother Nancy shared the tragic news and how the heartbreaking discovery was made through a post on Facebook. She expressed her grief and gratitude to all those involved in prayers and the search.
Weston was on a family vacation in Japan to celebrate his younger brother's graduation. He went missing on May 29 after a disagreement. After leaving his family in Kyoto, CCTV footage showed him in the Yamashina area heading towards a hiking trail before the location tracking on his phone was switched off.
Japanese authorities continued with the search alongside K-9 units, and helicopters, launching a three day search that was soon hampered by a serious storm. His family then resorted to hiring professional help in the form of a rescue crew and organized local search parties. But this was not the ending they were hoping for. His remains were found in a mountainous forest just outside the city.