Auburn University student missing in Japan during family trip
Parents Nancy and Keith Higginbotham are urgently seeking assistance in locating their son, James ‘Weston’ Higginbotham, a 20-year-old student from Auburn University who disappeared while on a family vacation in Kyoto, Japan. The last contact with his phone was on May 29, after which it went silent, prompting an extensive search. The Higginbothams suspect their son, an experienced hiker, may have sought solitude due to emotional distress.
During a family vacation in Japan, James ‘Weston’ Higginbotham went missing for nearly a week after setting off on his own following a family disagreement, his parents explained on Thursday.
Nancy and Keith Higginbotham shared more about the circumstances leading to their son’s disappearance on May 29, during an appearance on “FOX & Friends First.” They explained that the last sighting of their son was near Yamashina Station, located to the east of Kyoto.
“We decided to go separate ways,” Nancy Higginbotham recounted. “We were having minor disagreements typical of a family vacation, so we thought it best to give each other space. He’s 20 years old, very well-traveled, and an excellent navigator. We visited the temples, while he chose to spend time by the river.”
She emphasized that the disagreements were typical family squabbles, especially after spending six days in close quarters sharing twin beds in a hotel room.
James ‘Weston’ Higginbotham’s disappearance has been reported to the police, who believe his last known location was near Yamashina Station, east of Kyoto, according to his mother. The family continues to seek any information that might lead to his whereabouts.
