Auburn student’s family appeals for help a week after he went missing in Japan

The mother of a missing Auburn University student asked hikers in Japan to assist police in the search for her son, who vanished a week ago after what his family says was an argument over artificial intelligence.

The mother of a missing Auburn University student asked hikers in Japan to assist police in the search for her son, who vanished a week ago after what his family says was an argument over artificial intelligence.

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James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, was last seen at the Kyoto train station, and his disappearance has prompted a massive search by police and local volunteers, the family has said.

His mother, Nancy Higginbotham, said Friday on Facebook that her son was last known to have entered the mountainous forest area near Yamashina, Kyoto.