Friends of James “Weston” Higginbotham are speaking out after the Auburn University student was found dead in Japan, offering a clearer picture of who he was and why they believe he may have gone into the woods alone before tragedy struck.
Weston, 20, disappeared on May 29 while traveling in Japan with his family. What began as a dream vacation quickly turned into a desperate search after he separated from his family in Kyoto and could no longer be reached.
His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, later confirmed that Weston’s body was found by a volunteer search-and-rescue team in a mountainous area of Kyoto’s Yamashina Ward. Authorities have not publicly released a cause of death, but police have said foul play is not suspected.
According to reports, Weston had become upset after a disagreement during the trip and decided to spend time alone while his family visited a temple. Those close to him say that detail should not be misunderstood, because walking into nature to clear his mind was something Weston often did.
Friends and family described Weston as an experienced hiker, a nature lover, and someone who felt most at peace outdoors. They believe he may have headed toward local hiking trails without realizing how dangerous the area could become as the weather worsened before a typhoon.
Investigators believe Weston left the area around 6 p.m. on May 29. His phone reportedly lost network connection at around 8:29 p.m., and CCTV footage later showed him walking alone in the Yamashina district along a route leading toward wooded trails.
Family friend Jennifer Harper Bowen said she does not believe Weston was trying to disappear. She said he was likely upset and wanted space, but that the situation turned into a heartbreaking combination of bad timing, difficult terrain, and changing weather.
Weston’s mother also said it was not unusual for him to go into the woods when he needed to calm down. She described nature as his happy place, something that helped explain why his family believed he may have chosen to explore alone after becoming upset.
Close friend Audrey Daniels remembered Weston as smart, kind, adventurous, and deeply compassionate. She said he had a big heart for his friends, family, strangers, and especially the environment, noting that even the “Save the Bees” shirt he was last seen wearing reflected what he cared about.
Now, Weston’s loved ones are asking people to remember the person behind the tragedy. He was not just a missing student found in the mountains of Japan. He was a son, brother, friend, environmentalist, and young man whose love for nature may have led him into a place where one heartbreaking moment changed everything.
