Missing Alabama Student’s Parents Are In ‘living Hell’ After He Vanished On Japan Vacation

The parents of an Auburn University student who went missing during a family picnic successful Japan person said they are “in our ain surviving hell” arsenic they subordinate hopeless efforts to find him.

James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old postgraduate of Spain Park High School successful Alabama, went missing connected 29 May from nan Kyoto area successful confederate Japan.

His parents, Nancy and Keith, posted connected Facebook that constabulary person tracked down immoderate of his movements and understand he sewage disconnected a train astatine Yamashina Station, though they don’t cognize if he sewage backmost connected nan train astatine immoderate point.

“Please beryllium kind. We are successful our ain surviving hell,” his mom wrote connected Facebook. “He is not detained from a nighttime retired partying. The constabulary person confirmed this. Please, I request you, beryllium kind. I'm already successful truthful overmuch pain.”

Higginbotham is an knowledgeable hiker, they said, and whitethorn person “intentionally chosen a quiet trail” successful nan area, his mother added.

He mightiness beryllium “emotionally distressed”, she said, stressing that nan hunt for him is urgent amid concerns of a awesome large wind lashing Japan.

“I cognize location is simply a typhoon presently hitting, but I will beryllium location coming searching nan woods today,” his mom wrote.

“My hubby and I went past nighttime pinch flashlights and headlamps and didn't get excessively acold because we weren't prepared for nan wildlife we encountered.

“If anyone wants to subordinate america aft nan storm, I would beryllium grateful.”

Storm Jangmi , which was earlier a typhoon and now a tropical storm, battered nan subtropical land of Okinawa connected Monday but is now headed to nan Kansai region, which includes Kyoto.

Higginbotham is described arsenic 185cm tall, pinch agelong blonde hairsbreadth and bluish eyes. He was past seen wearing a achromatic garment which says ‘Save nan Bees’, lavender corduroy pants and hit up achromatic Adidas shoes. He besides has a enarthrosis container pinch nan authorities of Alabama written connected it.

He is studying biology engineering successful assemblage and is described arsenic an fantabulous student, very good travelled and a bully navigator.

The family has been connected a travel since 25 May. Higginbotham arrived astatine Kyoto position 4 days later astatine astir 8:15p.m. and mislaid nan web connected his telephone astatine 8:29 p.m. His family opportunity it appears that he was connected a section subway train eastwards towards nan Tokyo direction.

In an affectional video update connected Facebook, nan mates thanked each those who helped actively successful nan hunt and shared nan hunt online. The missing man’s begetter said they are getting “closer and person to uncovering him and we couldn’t do it without your support”.

“We want to convey you each truthful overmuch from nan bottommost of our hearts for nan outpouring of emotion and prayers,” they wrote alongside nan video connection connected Tuesday evening, which was Wednesday greeting Japan time.

“We’ve been touched by nan support from our friends, family, government, and moreover those who don’t cognize america from nan U.S. and from Japan. It helps support america affirmative and strong.”

They added that they would soon beryllium updating connected nan hunt and rescue efforts taking spot successful Japan.

The parents asked group to stock their posts to Kyoto, Japan travel, expat, hostel, hiking, and section organization groups online.