The family of James “Weston” Higginbotham has confirmed that he was discovered deceased after going missing while on a family trip to Kyoto, Japan.
Weston’s mother shared the news in a Facebook post, stating that her son’s body was located in a mountainous area near Kyoto by a volunteer rescue team.
“Our family is heartbroken. Words cannot express the sadness we feel,” wrote Nancy Higginbotham.
Weston had been missing since May 29. He was last seen near Yamashina Station, on the eastern side of Kyoto, after having a disagreement with his mother regarding the environmental impact of using ChatGPT for navigation during their travels.
The parents utilized the Life360 app to track his movements, including his train rides and visits to various stores. However, after sending a text message asking for his whereabouts, his location sharing was disabled. His mother mentioned that his behavior during this time was quite unusual.
Surveillance footage later captured Weston walking alone on a path that led to a hiking trail in the nearby Yamashina district forest.
Local authorities began searching the area on June 2, but their efforts were complicated by a heavy rainstorm that night.
This initiated a formal 72-hour search operation involving over 100 police officers, K-9 teams, and helicopters, which concluded on Friday.
Determined not to give up, the Higginbotham family organized their own search efforts, employing a private rescue team and rallying local volunteers to explore parts of Yamashina Forest that had not been covered by police.
Nancy described her son as a passionate environmentalist with a deep love for travel and nature.
“He loves to go outside at any time of the day. Whether it’s walking or hiking, it’s just fun for him,” she said.
“His goal is to travel and visit amazing mountains and places where he can immerse himself in different cultures,” she added.
The family concluded their statement by expressing gratitude to the local community.
“The outpouring of kindness and support has helped us through the darkest days of our lives. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We need them more than ever. We love you always, Weston,” the family wrote.
