Search concludes with discovery of Auburn student in Kyoto mountains
Auburn student James Weston Higginbotham found dead in Kyoto mountains after disappearing May 29.
Event / Security
James Weston Higginbotham Death
Auburn University student James Weston Higginbotham, 20, disappeared while on vacation in Kyoto, Japan on May 29, 2026. His body was discovered on June 6 in a mountainous area outside Kyoto following a massive search effort involving over 100 Japanese police officers and volunteer rescue teams.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 7 Jun, 01:06 UTC
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What happened
Auburn University student James Weston Higginbotham found dead in mountainous area outside Kyoto
James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University junior studying biosystems engineering, was found dead by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan. He had been missing since May 29 after becoming separated from his family during a trip to celebrate his younger brother's high school graduation.
Weston Higginbotham last seen leaving train station in Kyoto on May 29
James Weston Higginbotham was last seen on May 29 leaving Yamashina Station east of Kyoto. His parents tracked his location via the Life360 app as he moved near a river and boarded a train, but his phone location went dark shortly after. He had separated from his family after deciding to explore independently while they visited a nearby temple.
Massive multinational search effort launched for missing Auburn student
A search effort was launched involving over 100 Japanese police officers, dogs, and helicopters. Japanese authorities suspended search efforts on Friday, after which the family hired a professional rescue crew. International volunteers from the United States, Japan, and other countries participated in searching the mountainous terrain near Kyoto.
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