James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, disappears during a family trip in Japan and is later found dead near Kyoto after a weeklong search. Multiple outlets report the family was searching after he was seen getting on a train alone and then went off on his own during the vacation, including separating from family near the Yamashina Station area. Authorities and volunteers conduct an extensive search and rescue effort, with reporting indicating police focus on areas such as wooded hiking trails and a mountainous region outside Kyoto.

CBS reports that his parents launch their own search and speak about the case, saying they will find him. ABC similarly says he is found in a mountainous area near Kyoto, with the mother posting the news. Fox reports his mother confirms the death and that the search had been centered near the Kyoto area. Daily Mail reports investigators do not suspect foul play and states the cause of death will not be released. A family friend tells Hindustan Times that Higginbotham would not harm himself and describes the type of hike he enjoyed, including a “decompression” stroll.