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Family of Missing Auburn Student in Japan Launches Independent Search Efforts

KVIA•Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 5:12 AM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

The family of 20-year-old James 'Weston' Higginbotham, a college student from Auburn University, is actively searching for him after he went missing in Japan. Weston disappeared while exploring Kyoto alone following a disagreement with his mother about navigation technology. Despite the local police concluding their search after 72 hours, the Higginbothams are determined to find him and have enlisted local residents' help. They have also contacted the U.S. Embassy and the FBI for assistance. The family plans to hire a private search team and continues to raise funds through a GoFundMe campaign to support their efforts.

Key Details: • Weston was last seen on June 2, 2023, in the Yamashina area of Kyoto. • The family is focusing their search efforts on an 8-kilometer radius from where he was last spotted. • More than 100 police officers participated in the initial search, which has now concluded. • The family is raising funds via GoFundMe to support their ongoing search efforts. • They have reached out to the U.S. Embassy and the FBI for additional support.

missing-person community-support japan search-efforts university

People & Organizations

FBIU.S. EmbassyAuburn UniversityNancy HigginbothamKyotoYamashinaJames Higginbotham

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