A body believed to be Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper Lil Jon, was recovered from a pond near his north Fulton County home on Friday, authorities said. The artist confirmed his son’s death in a statement as police continued their investigation around Mayfield Park late in the day.
Smith, a musician and DJ who performed as DJ Young Slade, was reported missing on Tuesday after leaving his Milton residence without his phone. Police said he might have been disoriented when he left and launched an intensive search that included ground teams, drones and divers from the Cherokee County Fire Department. Officials said there were no immediate signs of foul play, and the Fulton County Medical Examiner will confirm the identity and determine the cause and manner of death. In a brief statement, Lil Jon and the boy’s mother, Nicole Smith, called their son an “amazingly talented” young man and asked for privacy while thanking the community and police for their efforts.
Authorities said the search narrowed Friday morning to Mayfield Park, less than a mile from the family’s neighborhood near Baldwin Drive and Mayfield Road. Just before noon, divers located a body in the pond and guided recovery crews to the site while officers secured the shoreline. Roads around the park were briefly restricted as investigators photographed the area and documented items collected near the water’s edge. “We continue to follow the evidence and are awaiting the medical examiner’s findings,” a Milton police spokesperson said. Officers emphasized that, based on information gathered so far, the case does not indicate an ongoing threat to the public.
Police reports say Smith left home on Feb. 3 under unusual circumstances. Family members told officers he ran out of the house and did not take his phone. Detectives canvassed nearby homes for doorbell footage, checked trails that cut through small greenspaces and coordinated with park staff. The search expanded to include utility easements and retention ponds common in the area’s subdivisions. By Thursday night, crews had staged equipment near Mayfield Park in preparation for a daylight water search. The Friday recovery capped a four-day effort that saw officers and volunteers comb sidewalks and drainage corridors as temperatures fluctuated across the week.
Smith, an NYU graduate, worked as a producer and DJ while building a catalog of releases under his stage name. Friends in Atlanta’s music scene described him as focused and collaborative. On social media, messages from performers and club promoters noted that he often balanced studio time with live shows around the metro area. Lil Jon, whose hits helped define the crunk era before a long run as a DJ and producer, said in his statement that the family was “extremely heartbroken” and remembered his son as caring and thoughtful. The family has not announced memorial plans.
Milton is a suburban city about 25 miles north of downtown Atlanta, with neighborhoods that mix cul-de-sacs and small parks linked by sidewalks and short trail segments. Mayfield Park sits off a residential corridor lined with single-story homes and townhouses; the pond where the body was found is bordered by grass and a few stands of trees. On Friday afternoon, patrol cars idled at the park entrance while detectives circulated among small clusters of residents who had gathered quietly behind tape. Some neighbors said officers had visited earlier in the week asking about cameras pointed toward side yards and pond paths.
Investigators said they are building a timeline of Smith’s movements using witness accounts, any available camera footage and digital records that do not rely on his missing phone, such as nearby commercial cameras. Detectives will also review clothing, personal items and environmental conditions at the pond to understand how long the body may have been in the water. Weather records and water temperature readings are among the standard data points collected in such cases. Officials did not say whether they recovered any of Smith’s belongings from the scene beyond what was on his person at the time of recovery.
Police reiterated that final determinations rest with the medical examiner, who will conduct an autopsy and, if needed, toxicology testing. Results typically take days to weeks, depending on laboratory workloads and the complexity of the case. Once identification is confirmed, investigators will compare medical findings with the timeline to evaluate whether any additional investigative steps are necessary. As of Friday evening, no criminal charges had been filed, and police again said there was no evidence pointing to foul play.
The disappearance and recovery drew national coverage because of Lil Jon’s profile and because search updates came in quick succession over several days. Media vans were parked along nearby streets as police worked at the pond, and music industry figures posted tributes online as the news spread. City officials reminded residents to avoid the park while the cordon was in place so detectives could finish measurements and mapping. By sunset, a small pile of flowers appeared near the entrance sign, and police began removing some barriers as crews wrapped up for the night.
Neighbors described a quiet week punctuated by patrols circling the block and officers knocking on doors. One resident said a team asked to review a camera aimed at a path leading toward the park, and another recalled seeing a small boat towed in early Friday. A runner who uses the loop around the pond said the area is typically calm in the mornings, with dog walkers and a few kids on bikes in the afternoon. “Everyone was hoping for a different ending,” she said, watching officers carry equipment cases back to a trailer.
Police did not release the exact time the body was located, only that divers reported the find late morning and recovery was completed shortly after. The agency said it would provide additional information once the medical examiner completes preliminary work. Family representatives said they would share memorial details later. For now, the park remains open, though sections of the shoreline may be revisited by investigators if needed.
As of Friday night, identification and cause of death were pending with the Fulton County Medical Examiner. The Milton Police Department said updates would follow after the autopsy and once detectives complete standard interviews and evidence reviews. The investigation remains open.
Author note: Last updated February 7, 2026.