The details seem odd. He wanders away in another country because his mom uses ChatGpt and they find him dead.

He only had the equivalent of about $60 cash on him, and didn’t use his credit cards. He could not have bought much. I bet the hardware store clerk remembers him and what he bought, which could be a clue to what happened—like if he bought rope. Super sad. Sounds like he had a mental breakdown. Just horrifying for the family.

My 22 year old son just came back from a solo trip to Japan. He had the time of his life. But he was not dealing with whatever this kid was going through.

Aokigahara Forest???

He was anti-AI use because of the data centers that hurt the environment.

They were not near the Aokigahara Forest, which is on the northern side of Mount Fuji near Tokyo. They were in Kyoto, over 300 miles from Tokyo.

No cause of death nor details of how the body was found have been released. He may have been killed in a landslide or rockslide, common in the steep forest trails outside of Kyoto, especially during the monsoon rains that had hit during his disappearance. His last known location was traced to one of those Kyoto forest trailheads.

Another clue was that he stopped at a hardware store before disappearing. He only had the equivalent of about $60 cash and did not use his credit cards. He could not have bought much with $60. It would be helpful to know what he bought. I would think he would have stood out to the store clerk and the clerk would remember what he bought, but nothing about that has been reported.

Where is Parker Posey when you need her!

I listened to an interview with a family member (I think maybe a sister???) yesterday and he sounded like a great kid. I was driving and didn't hear the introduction to the piece.

Whatever happened, it always hurts to lose a young one. May he rest in peace.

The main character, also found dead, was around the same age, avid hiker and loved the outdoors, had left at night not telling anyone of his plans.

He was described as feeling lost and not adapting to adulthood, worried about the state of the world, listening to Alex Jones and other conspiracy theory sources, underlining verses in the Bible (parents "devout Christians" ). May have been beginning to have symptoms of schizophrenia that start around that age.

Went into the woods to die.