Nancy Higginbotham said to CNN that she believes her son, James "Weston" Higginbotham, is still alive after he disappeared in Japan.
The case has drawn international attention as the family of the Auburn student seeks assistance in locating him during a mysterious disappearance on a family vacation. The outcome of the search remains uncertain, but the family continues to coordinate with authorities to identify his location.
Higginbotham said to anchor Erin Burnett about the ongoing efforts to find her son. She said that the family has identified a new area to focus their search efforts. The disappearance occurred about one week [1] before the interview took place.
"I know he's still alive," Higginbotham said.
The student vanished while the family was traveling in Japan. While the specific location of the disappearance has not been disclosed, Higginbotham said that the search is active.
"We’re still searching and we have a new area to focus on," Higginbotham said.
Family members and search teams are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event. No confirmed cause for the disappearance has been established by officials at this time.
“"I know he's still alive."”
The disappearance of a U.S. citizen abroad often involves complex coordination between local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of State. The family's public appeal and the identification of new search areas suggest that the investigation is evolving as new leads emerge, though the lack of a confirmed cause for the disappearance maintains a high level of uncertainty.
