An Alabama family has launched an urgent search for their 20-year-old son, Weston Higginbotham, who disappeared while on a family vacation in Japan.
Weston was last seen on May 29 in Kyoto after deciding to explore the city on his own while the rest of his family visited a nearby temple. According to his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, it was not unusual for him to travel independently, as he was an experienced traveler and outdoor enthusiast.
The family had been visiting Japan for about a week when Weston chose to spend some time alone. Through the location-sharing app Life360, relatives were able to track some of his movements around Kyoto, including visits to several stores and train stations. However, his phone location was later turned off, which his family described as highly unusual.
Concerned after receiving no response from him, the family reported Weston missing to local authorities during the early hours of the following morning.
Weston is a junior at Auburn University studying environmental engineering and is known for his passion for nature and outdoor adventures. His mother said he has extensive hiking experience, including solo trips in the Pyrenees Mountains in Europe.
Japanese police, volunteer search teams and the FBI are now involved in efforts to locate him. Search operations have focused on mountainous and forested areas around Kyoto, with challenging weather conditions complicating the effort.
His family has vowed to remain in Japan until he is found and continues to appeal for information that could help locate him.
“We’re not going to leave until we find Weston,” his mother said, expressing hope that he may simply be lost while exploring remote woodland areas.
