Japanese police have released a disturbing new update in the search for James “Weston” Higginbotham, the 20-year-old Auburn University student who vanished during a family vacation in Kyoto. Authorities say fresh surveillance footage from a park area shows the young American changed into a brown shirt before leaving with an unidentified man — a development that has deepened concerns about what happened to the honors student.

Higginbotham was last confirmed in the Kyoto area on the evening of May 29. He had arrived at Kyoto Station around 8:15 p.m. with his family before his phone went offline roughly 14 minutes later. Police previously narrowed his movements to Yamashina Station, east of central Kyoto, based on earlier CCTV. However, the latest footage from a nearby park introduces a startling twist: Weston appears to have changed his clothing and was seen departing the area in the company of another man.

The 6-foot-1-inch tall student, known for his long blonde hair, blue eyes, and adventurous spirit, was originally described as wearing a white “Save the Bees” shirt, lavender corduroy pants, and white Adidas sneakers when he went missing. Family members describe him as an excellent navigator, well-traveled, and emotionally stable, though authorities have noted he may have been experiencing some distress. His sudden disappearance has left his parents, Keith and Nancy Higginbotham, in what they call “our own living hell,” as they desperately search a country far from home while supporting their younger son.

The Higginbotham family arrived in Japan on May 25 for what was supposed to be a joyful trip. Weston, a Spain Park High School graduate studying at Auburn University, is an athlete who recently completed an Ironman triathlon. Friends and community members back in Hoover, Alabama, have rallied around the family, holding prayer vigils and spreading awareness across social media.

Japanese police are actively reviewing additional footage and appealing for public information. The presence of an unknown man in the latest CCTV has raised questions about whether Weston left voluntarily or if something more sinister occurred. Detectives are examining possible motives, including any chance of miscommunication due to language barriers or an unplanned encounter in the bustling city.

As the search enters its sixth day, authorities urge anyone with information — especially sightings of a tall young Caucasian male in a brown shirt — to contact local police immediately. The family has emphasized that Weston is not simply “out partying” and has asked the public to be kind and respectful while sharing accurate details only with authorities.

The international community, including fellow Americans and local Japanese residents, has offered overwhelming support, providing translation help and boots-on-the-ground assistance. Yet the uncertainty remains agonizing. For the Higginbothams, every passing hour without answers intensifies the fear that their bright, kind-hearted son may be in danger.

Anyone with potential leads is strongly encouraged to reach out to Kyoto police or the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. The family continues to hope for a safe reunion, clinging to the belief that Weston will soon be found unharmed.