3 hours ago
An American college student who went missing during a family vacation in ***** an has been found dead by search-and-rescue volunteers, marking a tragic end to a frantic dayslong search across forested mountains.
James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old junior at Auburn University and a passionate environmentalist, was traveling in the Kyoto area with his family when he vanished while exploring the city alone – shortly after having a disagreement with his mother over her use of AI to help with navigation, and the natural resources such a tool requires.
After authorities scaled back resources from the search, the family launched its own efforts to locate Weston with the help of local residents and a privately hired search-and-rescue group.
Here's a timeline of the events leading up to the discovery of Weston's body:
The family, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, arrives in ***** an to celebrate the high school graduation of Weston's younger brother. They visit a number of cities, including Tokyo, Nikko and Takayama, before heading to Kyoto.
James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old junior at Auburn University and a passionate environmentalist, was traveling in the Kyoto area with his family when he vanished while exploring the city alone – shortly after having a disagreement with his mother over her use of AI to help with navigation, and the natural resources such a tool requires.
After authorities scaled back resources from the search, the family launched its own efforts to locate Weston with the help of local residents and a privately hired search-and-rescue group.
Here's a timeline of the events leading up to the discovery of Weston's body:
The family, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, arrives in ***** an to celebrate the high school graduation of Weston's younger brother. They visit a number of cities, including Tokyo, Nikko and Takayama, before heading to Kyoto.
