Auburn Student Missing In Japan As Police Mount Major Search
Japanese police on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, escalated a major search for 20-year-old Auburn student James "Weston" Higginbotham, who disappeared in Japan during a family trip on May 29, 2026.[1]
About 50 officers, K-9 teams and helicopters were deployed Wednesday to wooded areas near Yamashina as police widened the search.[1] CCTV footage places his last confirmed location at Yamashina Station after his phone last showed activity around 8:15 p.m. at Kyoto Station.[1] His parents have flown to Japan, released detailed clothing and physical descriptions, and urged anyone with information to come forward.[1]
On May 29, 2026, Higginbotham, an Auburn University student from Alabama, vanished while traveling with family in the Kyoto area.[1] They say he is an experienced hiker and may have gone onto nearby trails, prompting searchers to concentrate on wooded terrain.[1] His parents described the ordeal as "in our own living hell" as they joined the searches.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student from Alabama, disappeared in Japan on May 29, 2026, during a family trip.
- CCTV places his last confirmed location at Yamashina Station east of Kyoto after his phone last showed activity around 8:15 p.m. at Kyoto Station.
- On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Japanese police escalated the search, deploying about 50 officers, K-9 units and helicopters to wooded areas near Yamashina.
- His parents are in Japan assisting searches and have released detailed clothing and physical descriptions, noting he is an experienced hiker and may have sought nearby trails.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time