Friends of Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham are speaking out after new details from his obituary gave a clearer timeline of the tragedy that unfolded during his family trip to Japan. The 20-year-old disappeared in Kyoto before being found dead days later in a remote mountainous area.
Weston had traveled to Japan with his parents and younger brother for what was meant to be a special family vacation. The trip was planned in celebration of his younger brother’s upcoming high school graduation, but it ended in heartbreak after Weston separated from his family.
His body was found on June 6 by a volunteer search-and-rescue team near Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range. The discovery brought an end to a search that had stretched across several days and involved authorities, volunteers, friends, and strangers who had followed the case from afar.
Japanese authorities have not publicly released an official cause of death, but police have reportedly ruled out foul play. That has left many people focused on the final known moments before Weston disappeared and the reasons he may have been alone in the wooded area.
According to his obituary, Weston is believed to have died on May 30, the same day he was reported missing. That detail has added new weight to the timeline and has brought renewed attention to what may have happened after he walked away from his family.
Weston had arrived in Kyoto with his family on May 29 after spending several days sightseeing in Japan. The next day, he reportedly left after a disagreement with his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, during the trip.
Family accounts have said Weston became upset and decided to spend time alone while the rest of the family visited a local temple. Those who knew him say that choice, by itself, did not seem unusual because Weston often turned to nature when he needed space.
Family friend Jennifer Harper Bowen said she believes Weston simply wanted time to calm down. She said she did not think he intended to disappear permanently, but rather that he may have turned off his phone because he was upset and wanted privacy.
Others close to Weston have shared a similar view. His mother previously explained that going into the woods and exploring was one of his favorite ways to decompress, describing nature as his happy place.
Close friend Audrey Daniels also remembered Weston as an experienced outdoorsman. She said hiking and being outside were part of how he processed difficult moments, making it possible that he went toward nearby trails without realizing how dangerous the situation might become.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Weston walking alone in Kyoto’s Yamashina district on the evening of May 29. The route was said to lead toward hiking paths and wooded areas, which has strengthened the belief that he may have headed into nature to clear his mind.
Authorities also confirmed that Weston stopped at a hardware store before heading toward the mountains. Later that evening, his phone lost signal, and after that point there was no mobile data activity, no bank activity, and no further contact with his family.
Family members said Weston had only about $62 with him and less than 40 percent battery remaining on his phone when he left. Those details made the search even more urgent, especially as weather conditions worsened in the area.
Heavy rain and nearby storm conditions reportedly made the search more difficult. As days passed, the hope of finding Weston safe turned into fear, and his family’s worst worries were confirmed when his body was discovered on June 6.
Even as questions remain about his final hours, Weston’s loved ones are choosing to remember the life he lived. His obituary described him as compassionate, inclusive, and deeply loved, someone who made friends across all backgrounds and showed up for people without hesitation.
His family encouraged others to honor him through simple acts that reflected his spirit, including walking in nature, eating a vegan meal, watching a sunset, telling loved ones they matter, and reducing unnecessary noise in life. As his family returns home with deep pain and gratitude for those who helped them in Japan, friends continue to remember Weston as a young man who loved the outdoors, loved people, and left behind a kindness that will not be forgotten.
