What Caused Nathan Smith’s Death? Lil Jon Confirms Son’s Demise After Remains Were Found In A Pond

After a long search and hopes, Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith, who had earlier gone missing on February 3, 2026, has now been found, but dead. The 27-year-old professionally known as DJ Young Slade was lifeless in Georgia, closing the search attempts for him. In turn, his father, Lil Jon, has confirmed the heartbreaking loss of his son in an emotional statement. At the same time, the rapper has asked for privacy for his family as they grieve their beloved son. Amid their great loss, here’s everything you might want to know about the incident.

Nathan Smith’s remains were recovered from a Georgia park pond

On Friday, February 6, 2026, multiple dive teams from the Cherokee County Fire Department were seen searching for something at a Mayfield Park pond. The proximity of the location to Nathan Smith’s home raised alarm among locals and media outlets. Later. At around 11:53 a.m., divers recovered a dead body from the water. After the search, the police revealed that they believe the remains belong to Nathan. However, they need to conduct an official identification by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm the same.

The Milton Police Department released a public statement, noting that they did not find any visible signs of foul play. In the meantime, the official cause and manner of his death would remain under investigation until the authorities wait for the medical examiner’s report. The police have also asked the public and media to respect the family’s privacy during this time. Likewise, Jonathan Smith, aka Lil Jon, and his ex-wife, Nathan’s mother, Nicole Smith, released an official statement sharing their grief and penned:

“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] 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 his friends to the fullest. We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him.”

When did Nathan Smith disappear?

According to the police officials, Nathan Smith was last seen around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. He reportedly ran out of his home on foot, leaving his phone behind. But he did not appear to be disoriented or disturbed in the visual. Therefore, the police alerted during the time mentioned that he ‘may be’ in need of assistance. After initial searches nearby, they had to broaden the search parameters, including the pond. Subsequently, the discovery had ended days of uncertainty but left the community in shock.

More about Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith 

Apart from being Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith had built his individual identity as DJ Young Slade. He began DJing at 13 after enrolling at the Scratch DJ Academy. Later, he graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and joined the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Nathan rose to fame when he toured as a DJ for Zendaya and co-produced Saweetie’s 2021 track, Get It Girl. Additionally, the 27-year-old had collaborated with his father on projects featuring artists such as Ice Cube and the Ying Yang Twins. He was also seen with his father on MTV’s Family Legacy and Celebrity Family Feud.

Rest in peace, Nathan Smith.

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