Three days after the heartbreaking news of Lil Jon's 27-year-old son, Nathan Smith, being reported missing in Georgia, the police have announced that he was found dead on Friday, February 6th. Responders recovered his body from a pond near his home, casting a dark shadow over the family and the community.
In a post on Facebook, the Milton Police Department shared the devastating update on Nathan's disappearance, which was first reported on Tuesday, February 3rd. "On February 6th, 2026, at approximately 11:53 a.m., divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department located and recovered a body from the pond," the post reads. "The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office."
The department emphasized that while no foul play is suspected, they will "continue to treat this as an open and active investigation" and will withhold further details until "the official cause and manner of death are determined by the Fulton County Medical Examiner."
In a statement shared with Billboard, Lil Jon, who shared Nathan with his estranged wife Nicole Smith, expressed his profound grief. "I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of my son, Nathan Smith," he said. "His mother and I are devastated. Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted - he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest."
The rapper thanked his fans for their prayers and support, as well as the numerous police and fire departments that aided in locating Nathan. He also called his son "an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and a graduate of NYU."
"We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him," Lil Jon added. "He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together, we're comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him."
Nathan was first reported missing on the evening of Tuesday, February 3rd. At the time, Milton police wrote on Facebook that he had "run out of his house and has been missing since," warning members of the community that he "may be disoriented and in need of assistance. Family and friends are concerned for his safety."
After their initial search efforts proved unsuccessful, the Milton Police Department expanded their search to include "a pond in Mayfield Park near Smith's Milton residence," from which Nathan had fled. Like his father, Nathan was musically inclined, making music under the moniker DJ Young Slade. He was the only child of Lil Jon and Nicole, who were married for about 18 years before separating in 2022.
The hip-hop star also shares a 1-year-old daughter, Nahara, with his girlfriend, business owner Jamila Sozahdah. The loss of Nathan has left a profound impact on not only his family but also on the music community that he so passionately loved.
