Missing American Tourist Found Dead in Mountains Outside Kyoto

In a statement posted on Facebook, his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, said the family was devastated by the discovery.

“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,” she wrote. “The grief we feel is impossible to put into words.”

Higginbotham, a student at Auburn University in Alabama, disappeared in late May while visiting Japan with his family. His mother previously said the two had an argument before going their separate ways, and that his phone’s location services had been turned off. Security camera footage reportedly showed him heading toward a mountainous area near Kyoto.

The case attracted widespread attention in both Japan and the United States, prompting extensive search efforts and appeals for information. In her statement, Nancy Higginbotham thanked the many people who helped search for her son and supported the family throughout the ordeal.

“We are deeply grateful to the countless people across the United States, Japan, and around the world who shared Weston’s story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement, and helped in the search efforts,” she said.

The family has asked for privacy as they mourn their loss.

“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,” Nancy Higginbotham wrote. “We will always love you, Weston.”

Japanese authorities have not yet released details regarding the cause of death, and the circumstances surrounding the case remain under investigation.

Previously: Search Continues for American Tourist Who Vanished in Kyoto Mountains

Source: FOX

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