TRAGEDY IN MILTON: Body Believed to Be Son of Rapper Lil Jon Recovered from Pond

MILTON, GA — The frantic search for the missing son of Atlanta rapper and producer Lil Jon has come to a devastating conclusion. On Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, authorities announced that the body of 27-year-old Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was recovered from a pond near his residence in Milton, an affluent suburb north of Atlanta.

The discovery ends a four-day multi-agency search that began when Smith vanished under what investigators described as “unusual circumstances.”

A Disappearance Cloaked in Mystery

The timeline of the tragedy began on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 3. According to the Milton Police Department, officers were called to the Baldwin Drive area following a report of a missing adult. Investigators determined that Smith had left his home around 6:00 a.m. on foot.

Adding to the urgency of the search were several concerning details:

No Communication: Smith left his residence without his mobile phone.

Mental State: Police alerts noted that Smith appeared “disoriented” at the time of his departure and was in need of assistance.

Environmental Risks: Some reports indicated Smith may have been under-dressed or even partially unclothed, heightening fears as temperatures fluctuated in the wooded Mayfield Park area.

For three days, K-9 units, drones, and search teams combed the dense residential and park areas surrounding Baldwin Drive and Mayfield Road. As the days passed without a sign of the 27-year-old, the search shifted toward the water.

The Recovery at Mayfield Park

On Friday morning, the focus of the operation narrowed to a pond within Mayfield Park, located just a few hundred feet from Smith’s residence. Divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department were called in to assist the Milton Police Department.

At approximately 11:53 a.m., divers located a body submerged in the water.

“The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the Milton Police Department stated in a press release.

While a formal identification and autopsy are required to determine the official cause and manner of death, police have noted that no foul play is currently suspected. However, the Criminal Investigations Division emphasized that the case remains “open and active.”

“Immense Heartbreak”: A Father’s Tribute

Lil Jon (born Jonathan Smith) and his estranged wife, Nicole Smith, issued a joint statement Friday afternoon, expressing the depth of their loss. The “Turn Down for What” hitmaker described his son as a gentle soul with a bright future.

“Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet,” the statement read. “He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted—he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.”

Nathan, who performed as DJ Young Slade, had been carving out his own legacy in the music industry. A graduate of New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, he was an accomplished producer and engineer. He famously collaborated with his father on the 2024 guided meditation album Total Meditation, showcasing a range of talent that spanned from high-energy hip-hop to soulful, ambient production.

Continuing Investigation

The Fulton County Medical Examiner is expected to release the autopsy results in the coming days. Investigators are working to piece together the final hours of Smith’s life, specifically focusing on what may have caused the disorientation that led him to leave his home so abruptly.

The Milton community, known for its equestrian farms and quiet atmosphere, has been left in shock. Neighbors reported seeing a massive law enforcement presence throughout the week, with many holding out hope for a safe return.

For now, the Smith family has requested privacy as they navigate the loss of a young man his father called “an amazingly talented artist.”