An American student from Auburn University who went missing in Japan last week has been found deceased. James "Weston" Higginbotham, 20, was discovered by volunteers in a mountainous area near Kyoto on Saturday, according to a Facebook post from his mother.

Higginbotham had been traveling with his family when he disappeared on May 29. Authorities reported that he stopped responding to family messages and turned off his phone's location services shortly before he went missing.

His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, expressed profound grief in her social media announcement, stating that the sorrow is "impossible to put into words." She added that the family had shared their story publicly hoping to find Weston and now requested privacy to cope with their "unimaginable loss."

Investigators in Japan had previously stated that they believed it was "highly probable" Higginbotham had left his family intentionally. However, Kyoto Prefectural Police also conveyed concern for his safety, citing his lack of Japanese language skills and unfamiliarity with the area.

Police had been actively investigating Higginbotham's movements after he left his hotel, interviewing his family, examining personal items left behind, and reviewing CCTV footage. The cause of Higginbotham's death has not yet been released.

Higginbotham was a biosystems engineering student at Auburn University. His family, originally from Alabama, were on a trip with him in Japan when he went missing.

The disappearance and subsequent discovery have drawn significant attention, with authorities and family members expressing concern for his well-being throughout the search.

Further details regarding the circumstances of his death are expected to be released as the investigation continues.