A 20-year-old Auburn University student from Alabama who went missing during a family vacation in Japan has been found dead, bringing a tragic end to a weeks-long search that captured international attention. James “Weston” Higginbottom, a junior studying biosystems engineering at Auburn University, was found in a mountainous area near Kyoto on June 6, according to statements from his family. The cause of death has not yet been released by officials.His mother, Nancy Higginbottom, shared the news Saturday that his body had been found by a volunteer search and rescue group. “It is impossible to put into words the grief we feel,” Higginbottom wrote in a statement posted on Facebook. “We are forever grateful for the time we spent with our sweet, precious Weston, but can’t fathom what life would be like without him.”Weston went to Japan with his parents and younger brother as part of a trip to celebrate his brother’s high school graduation. He disappeared on May 29 after being separated from his family while they were staying in the Kyoto area. Before Weston disappeared, he had a conflict with his mother over his excessive use of ChatGPT. Weston, a naturalist, told his mother how much water goes into the use of artificial intelligence.According to reports, surveillance footage showed Weston arriving at Kyoto’s Yamashina Station at around 8:15 pm on the day he disappeared. His mobile phone reportedly lost network connectivity a few minutes later, preventing further location tracking. Investigators believe he may have headed toward a nearby mountain area popular with hikers.Japanese authorities launched a massive search operation involving police officers, helicopters, and K9 units. Search teams searched forests and mountain paths in the Yamashina area, but were unable to locate him during the initial stages of the operation. The search was further complicated by difficult terrain and severe weather conditions, including heavy rains associated with a regional storm system.As official search efforts continued, Weston’s parents, Nancy and Keith Higginbotham, traveled to the search area and appealed for public assistance. Volunteers, local residents, and supporters in both Japan and the United States helped disseminate information about the missing student. Auburn University also expressed sympathy and concern for the family during the search.Authorities have not publicly disclosed the circumstances surrounding Weston’s death and the investigation is ongoing. As of Saturday, no irregularities have been announced by officials.