The family of James “Weston” Higginbotham, the 20-year-old American college student who was found dead after vanishing during a family vacation in Japan, is speaking out about their loss.

Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, wrote about the death of her son on Saturday, June 6, after the Auburn University junior’s remains were found by a volunteer search-and-rescue group outside Kyoto.

“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” she wrote in a candid social media post announcing her son’s death, referring to herself and husband Keith Higginbotham.

“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,” the grieving mother continued.

Nancy also expressed her thanks to “the countless people across the United States, Japan, and around the world who shared 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. We shared our story here and in the media in the hope of finding Weston,” she added.

Weston, a junior biosystems engineering major at Auburn, was last seen in the Kyoto area on CCTV on Friday, May 29, exiting a train in Yamashina.

Nancy said it was unknown if her son got back on the train, but the family believed Weston, an experienced hiker, may have gone on a hiking trail from Yamashina. The 20-year-old’s last phone activity occurred that evening.

The Higginbotham family had been traveling together since May 25, Nancy wrote in a previous Facebook post. Nancy told NBC News that Weston walked away after they got into an argument over ChatGPT, and they feared he could have been “emotionally distressed.”

Nancy also said that she and her husband had been actively searching for their son each day and shared missing posters around the Kyoto area, but a typhoon that swept through the region hampered their efforts.

“My husband and I went last night with flashlights and headlamps and didn’t get too far because we weren’t prepared for the wildlife we encountered,” Nancy wrote on social media on June 2. “If anyone wants to join us after the storm, I would be grateful.”

On June 3, 50 police officers, K9s and helicopters searched the wooded area outside outside Yamashina, which authorities said was made more difficult by the wet and steep terrain.

In her Facebook post about Weston’s death, Nancy asked for privacy for her family as they “navigate this unimaginable loss.”

“Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. We will need them now more than ever,” she concluded the emotional statement. “We will always love you, Weston.”