James 'Weston' Higginbotham, the Alabama college student who disappeared in Japan, has been tragically found dead, his heartbroken mother said. 

Nancy Higginbotham announced on Saturday morning that her 20-year-old son's body was finally discovered outside of Kyoto after an extensive search-and-rescue effort.

'Our family is heartbroken to share that Weston was found deceased by a volunteer search-and-rescue group in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,' the grief-stricken mother wrote on Facebook.

'We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like.'

Higginbotham said their family is 'deeply grateful' for everyone across the US, Japan and 'around the world' who helped 'share Weston's story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement and helped in the search efforts.' 

'The outpouring of kindness and support has carried us through the darkest days of our lives... Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever.

'We will always love you, Weston.'

The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. 

The Auburn University student traveled to the country with family to celebrate his younger brother's graduation, and was described as being 'emotionally distressed' when he went missing.

He had last been seen on May 29 after his family had been 'bickering,' his mother previously revealed. 

'We decided to separate. We had been, you know, kind of bickering with each other, and we decided, you go do your own thing, we do our thing,' Nancy told Fox News. 

Nancy described 'bickering' as normal, with the family sharing twin beds in a hotel room for six days together. She said he 'just needed time by himself,' and that his 'happy place is going on a trail or just going on a hike.' 

After his disappearance, James' family was able to track him down on Life360, an app that allows families to track locations, Nancy said. 

It showed that James, who also goes by Weston, was by a river, visited a few stores, and then boarded a local train before his location went 'completely dark,' she stated. 

He was last seen on surveillance footage getting off a train at the Yamashina Station Tuesday morning. 

On Wednesday, Nancy and her husband, Keith, shared a heartbreaking video on social media amid the search for their child. 

The couple thanked everyone who had offered support for their 'thoughts and prayers,' with Nancy adding, 'We truly feel them.' 

'We do feel the love and the support that you guys have given us and that the community in Japan has given us as well.

'Every time that you guys repost on social media, it's an opportunity for somebody in Japan to see it,' Nancy continued, explaining that their 'ultimate goal is for people in Japan to see Weston's face so they can report back to us.'