Japanese police expanded their search Wednesday for 20-year-old James "Weston" Higginbotham, who disappeared last Friday during a family vacation in Japan.
Police have reportedly deployed 50 officers, K9 teams, and helicopters in the Kyoto area to search for the young man, who is an Auburn University student from Alabama.
By Wednesday evening, the day's search had ended without locating Weston, according to an update posted by his mother, Nancy Higginbotham.
His mother said dozens of officers searched on foot while helicopters surveyed wooded hills near Bishamondo and the Otowa area north of Yamashina. Volunteers also joined the effort.
"The search resumes tomorrow as this is a large area," she wrote, thanking Japanese authorities, the FBI, the U.S. Embassy, Alabama officials, volunteers, and friends assisting in the search.
Surveillance footage reviewed by Japanese authorities traced his last known movements to the Yamashina area east of Kyoto, according to updates posted by his mother.
"The Japanese police have worked so hard for us thus far," she wrote. "They have watched endless footage on CCTV cameras throughout the city to find Weston’s last location, which was Yamashina."
Police began searching heavily wooded terrain in the area around 8 a.m. Wednesday.
"Today, they deployed 50 police officers, K9s, and helicopters to search the heavy wooded area," she wrote. "They have been working hard since 8:00 am this morning and have not found anything thus far."
The search comes five days after Weston disappeared while traveling in Japan with his family. The family arrived in Japan on May 25.
Investigators determined that Weston arrived at Kyoto Station around 8:15 p.m. on Friday and boarded a local train heading east. His phone lost network connectivity around 8:29 p.m., according to his mother.
Police later narrowed the search area to the vicinity of Yamashina Station after reviewing surveillance footage.
"We have narrowed it down to Yamashina station per CCTV," she wrote in a public appeal on Tuesday.
His mother said investigators have considered the possibility that he may have entered nearby hiking trails because he is an experienced hiker and traveler. She said the police have ruled out online speculation that her son was detained after a night of partying.
"He is not detained from a night out partying. The police have confirmed this," she wrote.
Weston is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall with long blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white shirt with "Save the Bees" on the back, lavender corduroy pants, and white Adidas shoes with black stripes. He was carrying a shoulder bag featuring the outline of Alabama, according to the family's missing-person notice.
"If you know Weston, you know what a great kid he is," his mother said. "He has a heart of gold, and we all want him to come back safely."
His father, Keith Higginbotham, said the family hopes the message spreads "far and wide" and reaches the right people in Japan as the search continues.
The search effort has also drawn support from public officials in Alabama.
"Many in our community have been following the search for Weston Higginbotham, a Hoover native, Spain Park High School graduate, and Auburn University student who has been missing in Japan since May 29," Derzis wrote.
"May strength, wisdom, and endurance be with all those working to bring him home. Our hearts are with the Higginbotham family during this difficult time, and we remain hopeful for a positive resolution," he said.
Weston's parents said they remain hopeful that he will be found. "We will continue to have hope," his mother wrote Wednesday evening. "We will find Weston."
She said the family had reached its goal of increasing awareness in Japan through international media coverage, noting that CNN International, CNN Tokyo, and The Japan Times had featured or interviewed the family as they worked to publicize Weston's disappearance.
"Getting Weston’s picture in front of Japanese citizens is key," she wrote. "It’s been 5.5 days since we have seen Weston, but we are not losing hope."