On the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 6, the Milton Police Department and the Cherokee County Fire Department in Milton, Georgia, reported that search teams had recovered a body believed to be that of Lil Jon’s missing adult son, Nathan Smith.
Smith, 27, who was also known as DJ Young Slade, was reported missing on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.
“The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” a Milton Police Department post on Facebook stated, noting that divers located a body at 11:53 a.m. “Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play.”
The department added that its Criminal Investigations Division will nonetheless “continue to treat this as an open and active investigation.”
Milton police said no further details will be released until an official cause and manner of death are determined by the medical examiner’s office and “all investigative leads have been thoroughly examined.”
The post concluded with Milton PD extending its “deepest condolences” to the family and asking that their privacy be honored.
“The department respectfully asks the community and members of the media to honor the family’s request for privacy as they grieve and navigate this tragedy,” Milton PD said.
Earlier that week, on Friday, Feb. 3, Milton police issued an official missing person’s report for the “Snap Ya Fingers” rapper’s son on social media. Authorities said Smith was last seen at approximately 6 a.m. that morning “in the vicinity of Baldwin Dr./Mayfield Rd. in Milton.” Police noted that he was seen running from his home barefoot, without his cell phone, and appeared “disoriented and in need of assistance. Family and friends are concerned for his safety.”
Following the announcement, Georgia authorities intensified their search efforts in the area where Smith was last seen.
On Friday, Feb. 6, the search focused on a pond at Mayfield Park, located near his home.
11-Alive reported that dive teams and K-9 units were on the scene searching for signs connected to his disappearance. The network captured footage of a dive team removing an item from the water, wrapping it in a tarp, and transporting it into a nearby tent.
Since Smith’s disappearance, fans had flooded his social media with messages of support and prayers for his safe return. His last Instagram post, shared on Jan. 6, featured a photo with his manager, Lil Will, and rapper Bow Wow at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Smith, an emerging artist and DJ, released his most recent single, “Feels,” in March 2025. He also appeared on MTV’s Family Legacy, a series that follows the children of music legends. In an interview with The Quintessential Gentleman, Smith spoke about growing up with Lil Jon as his father.
“It’s dope to appreciate my dad, show respect, and just look at all the things he’s done, and it’s nice to get the torch passed down and do my own thing,” he said at the time. “Because it’s like it comes from him, but also I’m definitely taking it and making it my own.”
Smith was Lil Jon’s oldest child with his ex-wife, Nicole Smith.
At the time the body was recovered, the family had not issued a public statement.