An Alabama family has issued a heartbreaking appeal in the search for their missing 20-year-old son, who vanished during a trip to Japan. James 'Weston' Higginbotham, a student at Auburn University, was last seen in Kyoto on May 29. He traveled to the country with his family on May 25, and was last seen wearing lavender pants, a Save the Bees t-shirt, and white sneakers.
Family's Emotional Plea
In an emotional video on Tuesday, the parents thanked internet users for their 'thoughts and prayers,' saying they 'truly feel them.' They renewed their pleas for help in the search. 'Every comment, every share has led us to where we are now,' his father, Keith Higginbotham, said. 'We continue to get closer and closer, and we couldn't do it without everyone's support.'
The parents encouraged people to continue sharing posts about Higginbotham on social media, as it provides a 'chance for somebody in Japan to see it.' 'That's our ultimate goal, for people in Japan to see Weston's face, so that they can report back to us. It's just been instrumental,' his mother, Nancy Higginbotham, said.
Community Support and Search Efforts
The community support has led the parents to be 'confident' they will find their missing son 'because of everybody's help.' They ask anyone who spots Higginbotham to call police and then message them, rather than posting his exact location. Higginbotham, an environmental engineering student, is an avid hiker with 'excellent' navigation skills, Nancy said.
Japanese police deployed 50 officers on Wednesday, along with dogs and helicopters, to search a heavily wooded area in Bishamondo and Otowa for the student. Due to a recent typhoon, the wet ground is hindering the search, his mother said. Shortly before 9 p.m. Kyoto time on Wednesday, the search concluded for the day with no signs of Higginbotham, Nancy reported on Facebook. A larger area will be searched on Thursday.
'If you know Weston, you know what a great kid he is. He has a heart of gold, and we all want him to come back safely,' his mother said. The young man is 6 feet 1 inch tall, has long blonde hair, blue eyes, and 'may have been emotionally distressed,' according to his parents. His family and friends have requested that anyone in the area search hotels, cafes, hostels, train stations, stores, and even the 'deep woods' for their son.
