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Family Honors Vibrant Auburn Student After Japan Tragedy
17 Jun
Summary
- Auburn University student James Higginbotham died in Japan.
- He was found deceased after a week-long search.
- Donations are requested for his ecological engineering scholarship.

The family of James "Weston" Higginbotham is mourning his loss after the 20-year-old Auburn University student was found deceased in Japan. Weston disappeared for a week in Kyoto during a family trip intended to celebrate his brother's graduation.
His mother confirmed his death on June 6, stating he was discovered by a search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area near Kyoto. Local authorities do not suspect foul play. Weston was a junior studying Biosystems Engineering with a focus on sustainability.
He was remembered at a funeral service on June 17 in Birmingham, Ala. Loved ones described him as a gifted athlete and student with a charismatic smile and adventurous spirit. He was passionate about environmentalism and sustainability.