The parents of an Auburn University student who vanished during a family vacation in Japan have described their ordeal as a 'living hell' as they join the desperate search for their son. James 'Weston' Higginbotham, a 20-year-old graduate of Spain Park High School in Alabama, has been missing since 29 May from the Kyoto area in southern Japan.
Parents' Plea
His parents, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, have been actively involved in the search. In a Facebook post, Nancy wrote: 'Please be kind. We are in our own living hell. He is not detained from a night out partying. The police have confirmed this. Please, I beg you, be kind. I'm already in so much pain.' Police have tracked some of his movements, confirming he alighted from a train at Yamashina Station, though it is unclear if he reboarded.
Experienced Hiker
Higginbotham is an experienced hiker, and his parents believe he may have 'intentionally chosen a quiet trail' in the area. His mother added that he might be 'emotionally distressed' and stressed the urgency of the search, especially with a major storm approaching Japan. 'I know there is a typhoon currently hitting, but I will be there today searching the woods today,' she wrote. 'My husband and I went last night with flashlights and headlamps and didn't get too far because we weren't prepared for the wildlife we encountered.'
Typhoon Threat
Storm Jangmi, which has weakened from a typhoon to a tropical storm, battered the subtropical island of Okinawa on Monday and is now heading towards the Kansai region, which includes Kyoto. This has added to the urgency of the search efforts.
Description and Last Sighting
Higginbotham is described as 185 cm tall, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with 'Save the Bees' on the back, lavender corduroy trousers, and worn white Adidas shoes. He also carried a shoulder bag with the state of Alabama printed on it. He is an environmental engineering student, described as an excellent student, well-travelled, and a good navigator.
Timeline of Disappearance
The family has been on a trip since 25 May. Higginbotham arrived at Kyoto Station four days later at around 8:15 p.m., and his phone lost network signal at 8:29 p.m. His family believes he was on a local subway train heading east towards Tokyo.
Community Support
In an emotional video update on Facebook, the couple thanked everyone who has helped in the search, both actively and by sharing information online. The missing man's father said they are getting 'closer and closer to finding him and we couldn't do it without your support.' They added: 'We want to thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and prayers. We've been touched by the support from our friends, family, government, and even those who don't know us from the U.S. and from Japan. It helps keep us positive and strong.' They plan to provide updates on search and rescue efforts in Japan and have asked people to share their posts with relevant online communities, including Kyoto travel, expat, hostel, hiking, and local groups.
