8legs: Volunteer search-and-rescue group

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world5h ago

American college student who went missing in Japan is found dead, family confirms

Weston Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student, was found deceased by a volunteer search group in a mountainous area outside Kyoto.
Weston disappeared on May 29 during a family trip to Japan and was last seen around 8 p.m. walking alone in a forested area near Kyoto.
The family announced the death on social media, expressing gratitude for the support from people in the U.S., Japan, and worldwide.
The family had been in Japan to celebrate Weston Higginbotham’s younger brother’s high school graduation and had planned to hire a private search team.
Auburn University issued a statement mourning the loss and offering sympathy to Weston’s family and loved ones.
Weston Higginbotham’s mother described her fears that he might be hurt or stuck somewhere in the mountains before the body was found.
The initial search included hundreds of officers, dogs, and helicopters but did not locate Weston before the final discovery.
Weston Higginbotham was in Japan with his parents to celebrate his younger brother’s graduation when he went missing.
The family asked for privacy as they cope with the loss following Weston’s death.
The Independent reported on Weston Higginbotham’s death and the family’s statements via their regional coverage.

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