By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-08 20:17:59 | Updated at 2026-06-09 14:09:45
18 hours ago
The cause of death of an Arizona student who died while on a family vacation in Japan will not be released, authorities have said.
James 'Weston' Higginbotham, 20, was found dead over the weekend outside of Kyoto in the country after an extensive search-and-rescue effort.
Authorities in Japan will not be disclosing publicly how he died, while adding that there is no indication of foul play, TMZ reported.
His mother Nancy announced on Saturday that his body was discovered in a heartbreaking post to her Facebook page.
'Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,' the grief-stricken mother wrote.
'We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.'
Higginbotham said their family is 'deeply grateful' for everyone across the US, Japan and 'around the world' who helped 'share Weston's story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement and helped in the search efforts.'
'The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives... Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever. We will always love you, Weston.'
James 'Weston' Higginbotham, 20, was last seen in Kyoto on May 29. His parents revealed on Saturday morning that the college student was found dead
James (left) was described as being 'emotionally distressed' when he went missing
He traveled to the country with family to celebrate his younger brother's graduation, and was described as being 'emotionally distressed' when he went missing.
He had last been seen on May 29 after his family had been 'bickering,' his mother previously revealed.
'We had an argument because I was using ChatGPT too much to try to help us navigate the trip and find the best restaurants and do this and that,' she told NBC News.
Nancy said her son, a biosystems engineering major at Auburn University, adamantly opposes society's ever-growing reliance on AI.
'We try never to use it and I totally agree with him. It was just a dumb, dumb argument to have,' Nancy added.
The heartbroken mother said her son appeared 'emotionally distressed' after their disagreement.
Higginbotham is a 'pacifist,' she explained before the discovery of his body, claiming that he will 'retreat to himself' when he gets upset.
Nancy described 'bickering' as normal to Fox News, with the family sharing twin beds in a hotel room for six days together. She said he 'just needed time by himself,' and that his 'happy place is going on a trail or just going on a hike.'
His mother and father, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, made an emotional plea last week for anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward (Pictured: James and Nancy)
James (far right) traveled to the country with his family to celebrate his younger brother's graduation
He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic on the back that reads 'Save the Bees', lavender corduroy pants, and white Adidas sneakers with black stripes
After his disappearance, James' family was able to track him down on Life360, an app that allows families to track locations, Nancy said.
It showed that James, who also goes by Weston, was by a river, visited a few stores, and then boarded a local train before his location went 'completely dark,' she stated.
He was last seen alive on surveillance footage getting off a train at the Yamashina Station Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday, Nancy and her husband, Keith, shared a heartbreaking video on social media amid the search for their child.
The couple thanked everyone who had offered support for their 'thoughts and prayers,' with Nancy adding, 'We truly feel them.'
'We do feel the love and the support that you guys have given us and that the community in Japan has given us as well.'
