Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham disappeared while on a family vacation in Japan. His death took a tragic turn after learning of the last text message he sent to a friend before disappearing.
HigginbothamA junior majoring in biosystems engineering at Auburn University, he was last seen on May 29 in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto.
Japanese authorities, volunteers and family members spent more than a week searching for him after he became separated from his parents during the trip. A volunteer search and rescue team eventually found his body in a wooded area outside Kyoto on Saturday, June 6.
Read more: Cause of death of James Weston Higginbotham revealed? Missing American student found dead in Japan
The last text message to a friend before disappearing
The last-minute details released included messages exchanged between Higginbotham and his old friend Lu Feiyu, who met him and his family during a trip to Japan, The Sun reports.
Shikari and Higginbotham are childhood friends, having attended middle school together in the United States before Shikari moved to Japan a few years ago. The two reunited in Tokyo while Weston was on vacation and spent time together at a restaurant in Shinjuku. Soon after, the Higginbothams traveled to Kyoto.
After meeting, Lu sent a message to thank his friend for the reunion. “Thank you very much. Have a great time in Japan! Please feel free to contact me whenever you have a problem,” he wrote.
Higginbotham responded with a heart emoji in what would become one of their final exchanges.
A few days later, after Weston arrived in Kyoto, Lu sent another text message asking how he was doing and offering travel advice. “Good evening! How was your stay?” he wrote. “Hope you guys enjoy your stay in Kyoto! Let me know if there are any places you need me to recommend.”
The message was never delivered and no one responded.
Family mourns after search ends in tragedy
June 6, Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham confirmed the devastating news in a statement on Facebook.
“Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found dead by a volunteer search and rescue team in the mountains outside Kyoto,” she wrote. “Words cannot express the sadness we feel.”
She thanked the thousands of people who assisted with the search efforts and supported the family throughout the ordeal.
“We are forever grateful for the time we spent with sweet, precious Weston, but can’t begin to fathom what life would be like without him,” she added.
