Auburn University student disappears in Japan as parents join search: ‘In our own living hell’

An American assemblage pupil from Alabama disappeared successful Japan during a household trip, leaving his parents pleading for assistance arsenic they articulation dozens of constabulary and K-9 units searching the region's wooded trails.

James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, has not been heard from since May 29, according to his mother, Nancy Higginbotham.

"We are successful our ain surviving hell," Nancy Higginbotham wrote connected societal media. "He is not detained from a nighttime retired partying. The constabulary person confirmed this. Please, I beg you, beryllium kind. I'm already successful truthful overmuch pain."

Police reviewing CCTV footage determined that Weston’s past confirmed determination was Yamashina Station, eastbound of Kyoto. The country astir Yamashina includes respective fashionable hiking routes, temples and forested paths, including trails starring toward Mount Otowa and the Kyoto Trail network.

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James "Weston" Higginbotham, 20, vanished successful Japan during a household trip, according to his mother. Police judge his past known determination was Yamashina Station, eastbound of Kyoto. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham )

His parent said his telephone past showed enactment soon aft helium arrived astatine Kyoto Station astir 8:15 p.m. earlier losing web work minutes later.

Family members judge Weston whitethorn person boarded a section bid heading eastbound earlier getting disconnected astatine Yamashina. An experienced hiker and biology engineering student, helium whitethorn person intentionally sought retired adjacent quality trails, his parent said.

His household believes helium whitethorn person been seeking adjacent quality trails erstwhile helium went missing connected May 29. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham )

She added that Weston whitethorn person been emotionally distressed astatine the clip helium went missing.

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"If you spot him, PLEASE DO NOT POST HIS EXACT LOCATION PUBLICLY. Please telephone section constabulary instantly and past connection maine directly," she wrote.

Japanese constabulary escalated the hunt connected Wednesday, organizing 50 officers, K-9 teams and helicopters to scour heavy wooded terrain adjacent the station.

Nancy Higginbotham has praised section constabulary successful her societal media posts arsenic the officers continued to enactment contempt terrible upwind sweeping done parts of the region.

She said that she and her hubby searched wooded areas astir Yamashina with flashlights earlier a typhoon moved through, but were forced to crook backmost due to the fact that of hard terrain and wildlife.

Weston was past seen wearing a garment with "Save the Bees" printed connected the back, lavender corduroy pants and achromatic Adidas sneakers with achromatic stripes, according to his mother. (Facebook/Nancy Higginbotham )

Weston is described arsenic lasting 6 feet 1 inch gangly with agelong blond hairsbreadth and bluish eyes. His parent said helium was past seen wearing a garment with "Save the Bees" printed connected the back, lavender corduroy pants and achromatic Adidas sneakers with achromatic stripes. He was carrying a enarthrosis container featuring the outline of the authorities of Alabama.

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Despite days of searching, his household says they stay hopeful.

"We volition not suffer hope," Higginbotham wrote. "We consciousness each of the emotion that you are pouring retired passim the day."