A body believed to be Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper and producer Lil Jon, was recovered from a pond near Smith’s home after he was reported missing earlier in the week, police in this Atlanta suburb said. Authorities said they were awaiting confirmation and autopsy results.
The discovery ended several days of searching that drew attention beyond north Fulton County because of Lil Jon’s fame and because police issued frequent updates as they looked for Smith, known in the music world as DJ Young Slade. Investigators said they found no indication of foul play based on the information gathered so far, but they described the case as active while the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office worked to confirm identity and determine the cause and manner of death.
Police said Smith left his Milton residence early Tue., Feb. 3, under what officers called unusual circumstances. A missing person notice circulated by police said Smith ran out of the house and left on foot without his phone. Investigators said relatives and friends believed he could have been disoriented and in need of help. Milton officers began searching the neighborhood soon after the report came in, then widened the effort over the next several days as they failed to locate him on nearby streets, trails and other common walking routes.
By Fri., Feb. 6, police and partner agencies had concentrated resources at and around Mayfield Park, a small public space less than a mile from the area where Smith lived. Cherokee County Fire Department divers entered a pond in the park late that morning. Just before noon, divers located a body in the water, and recovery crews moved in while officers secured the shoreline and restricted access to parts of the park. A Milton police spokesperson said investigators were documenting the area and collecting evidence, adding that the medical examiner would provide official confirmation and the findings needed to explain what happened.
Lil Jon, whose legal name is Jonathan Smith, confirmed his son’s death in a statement and asked for privacy as the family grieved. In the statement, Lil Jon and Smith’s mother, Nicole Smith, described their son as “amazingly talented” and said they were heartbroken. Lil Jon said his son was kind, caring and warmhearted, and he thanked the community and law enforcement officers who took part in the search. Police said they would not release additional details about the death until the medical examiner completed preliminary work, including an autopsy and any necessary toxicology testing.
Officials gave only limited information about what led them to the pond search, but they described an effort that included ground teams, drones and coordinated checks of nearby spaces that often draw walkers in this area of north metro Atlanta. Detectives canvassed homes for possible doorbell or security camera footage, checked trails that link small greenspaces, and coordinated with other agencies as the search expanded. In the days after Smith disappeared, investigators also reviewed areas common to suburban neighborhoods, including drainage corridors, utility easements and retention ponds. Police said they were building a timeline of Smith’s movements using witness accounts and available camera footage, along with records that do not depend on a phone being carried.
Milton is about 25 to 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta, with residential neighborhoods connected by sidewalks, short trail segments and small parks. Mayfield Park sits along a residential corridor of single-story homes and townhouses. The pond where the body was found is bordered by grass and stands of trees, and residents said it is normally used by dog walkers, runners and families. On the afternoon of the recovery, neighbors gathered quietly near police tape as patrol cars idled at the entrance and investigators moved in and out of the cordoned area. One nearby resident said officers had visited earlier in the week to ask about cameras that might face paths leading toward the park.
Friends and supporters of Smith posted tributes online as word of the recovery spread, describing him as focused and easy to work with. Police said they were still working to understand the circumstances that led to Smith leaving home and how he ended up at the pond. Investigators said they would review any clothing and personal items associated with the recovery, along with environmental conditions at the scene, as part of the standard process of understanding how long a body may have been in the water. A police spokesperson said officers were following the evidence and awaiting the medical examiner’s findings, while emphasizing there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.
Smith had been building a career in music as a DJ and producer, working under the name DJ Young Slade, and people close to him said he balanced studio work with live performances around the Atlanta area. In a resurfaced interview recorded months before his death, Smith spoke warmly about his father and described him as present and supportive. Lil Jon, a central figure in the crunk era of hip-hop and later a longtime touring DJ and producer, has long been identified with Atlanta’s music scene and has collaborated with artists across pop and hip-hop over the last two decades.
As of this week, no charges had been filed, and police said the investigation remained open. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office was expected to confirm identity and release the cause and manner of death after its examination. Milton police said additional updates would follow after the autopsy and after detectives completed standard interviews and evidence reviews, including any review of available video and witness accounts.
Author note: Last updated February 13, 2026.
Featured image prompt (1200×630): A wide, horizontal news photo style scene outside a small suburban park in Milton, Georgia, showing a calm pond behind yellow police tape, a few police vehicles parked near the entrance, winter trees and grass, and a cloudy late-afternoon sky; no logos, no identifiable faces, natural colors, realistic lighting.