Body of missing Auburn University student found in Japan

BREAKING NEWSJun. 6, 2026, 3:53 PM UTCU.S. newsU.S. newsBody of missing Auburn University student found in Japan James “Weston” Higginbotham’s remains were found in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto, his mother said. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Mirna AlsharifThe body of an Auburn University student who had been missing in Japan for a week has been found in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto, according to his family.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, was last seen at the Kyoto train station a little over a week ago. His disappearance prompted a massive search by police and local volunteers.Weston Higginbotham.via FacebookHis mother, Nancy Higginbotham, shared the news on Saturday that his body had been found by a volunteer search and rescue group.“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” Higginbotham wrote in a statement. “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 expressed gratitude for all those who helped search for her son, showed support or prayed for their family. “We shared our story here and in the media in the hope of finding Weston. We now ask for privacy as we begin to navigate this unimaginable loss,” she said. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.ShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMirna AlsharifMirna Alsharif is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.