An Auburn University student disappears near Kyoto during a family trip to Japan
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An American college student from Alabama has disappeared in Japan on a family trip, leaving his parents pleading for help as they join dozens of police and K-9 units searching forest trails.
James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old student at Auburn University, has not been heard from since May 29, according to his mother, Nancy Higginbotham.
“We are in our own living hell,” Nancy Higginbotham wrote on social media. “He is not locked up at the party at night. The police have confirmed this. Please be kind. I am in so much pain.”
Police reviewing CCTV footage found that Weston’s last confirmed location was Yamashina station, east of Kyoto. The area around Yamashina includes several popular hiking trails, temples and forest trails, including trails to Mount Otowa and the Kyoto Trail network.
ARIZONA STUDENT DISAPPEARS DURING GRAND CANYON TRIP DAYS BEFORE GRADUATION, FAMILY Pleads For Help
James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, disappeared in Japan during a family trip, according to his mother. Police believe his last known location was Yamashina Station, east of Kyoto. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham)
His mother said his phone last showed activity shortly after he arrived at Kyoto station at around 8:15pm before losing network minutes later.
Family members believe Weston may have boarded an eastbound local train before getting off at Yamashina. An experienced hiker and environmental engineering student, he may have deliberately sought out nearby nature trails, his mother said.
His family believes he may have been looking for nearby nature trails when he went missing on May 29. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham)
He added that Weston may have been depressed when he went missing.
A POTENTIAL AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT WAS SEEN IN NEW SHOES TO PROTECT THE HOTEL BEFORE IT LOST.
“If you see him, PLEASE DO NOT TEXT HIS LOCATION. Please call the local police immediately and text me directly,” he wrote.
Japanese police stepped up the search on Wednesday, deploying 50 police officers, K-9 teams and helicopters to a heavily wooded area near the station.
Nancy Higginbotham praised the local police on social media as the police continued to work despite the severe weather in some parts of the region.
She said she and her husband searched the forested areas around Yamashina with flashlights before the typhoon passed, but were forced to turn back due to difficult terrain and wildlife.
Weston was last seen wearing a shirt with “Save the Bees” written on the back, lavender corduroy pants and white Adidas sneakers with black stripes, according to his mother. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham)
Weston is described as standing 6 feet 1 inch tall with long blond hair and blue eyes. His mother said he was last seen wearing a shirt with “Save the Bees” written on the back, lavender corduroy pants and white Adidas sneakers with black stripes. She was carrying a shoulder bag with an outline of the state of Alabama.
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Despite days of searching, his family says they still have hope.
“We will not give up hope,” Higginbotham wrote. “We feel all the love you’ve been pouring out all day.”
