Nancy and Keith Higginbotham thanked supporters on June 2 as the search for their son, Auburn University student James "Weston" Higginbotham, continued in Japan. In a video message, the couple said the outpouring of help has kept the effort moving and that they remain hopeful he will be found safely.
The family said social media shares and online posts have widened awareness of the search in Japan, where they want Weston's face to keep circulating so someone can recognize him and reach out. Weston, 20, from Hoover, was last confirmed in the Kyoto area of Japan on May 29, according to Facebook posts from his mother, Nancy.
Nancy Higginbotham said the family feels the support that has come from friends, strangers and people in Japan. Keith Higginbotham added that every repost creates another chance for someone there to see the photo and contact the family, and he said the goal is simple: for Weston's image to reach the right person at the right time.
The public push has become part of the search itself. Friends, family members and community supporters gathered Tuesday evening at Asbury United Methodist Church in Shelby County for a prayer vigil, underscoring how the effort now spans Alabama and Japan and depends heavily on people sharing updates online.
That broad support has not changed the central fact that remains unresolved. Weston has not been publicly located since his last confirmed appearance in Kyoto, and the family is still relying on reposts, prayers and word of mouth to narrow the gap between where he was seen and where he is now.
For now, the search remains ongoing, and the family has made clear what they believe will bring it closer to an end: more people seeing Weston's face and sending back information that can lead them to him.
