Lil Jon’s son DJ Young Slade: body recovered in Milton pond after dayslong search
A body believed to be that of Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper and producer Lil Jon who performs as DJ Young Slade, was recovered Friday from a pond in a north Atlanta suburb after he was reported missing earlier in the week. Police said the identity has not yet been formally confirmed, but investigators believe the recovery is connected to the missing-person case that sparked an intense search around Mayfield Park in Milton, Georgia.
The update shifts the case from a public search effort to a death investigation, while leaving key questions unresolved, including what led up to Smith’s disappearance and how he ended up in the water.
What’s confirmed so far
Local authorities said divers located and recovered the body just before noon Friday, Feb. 6. Police also said there were no immediate signs of foul play, while stressing that the investigation remains open pending confirmation from the medical examiner and follow-up work to reconstruct the timeline.
Smith had been reported missing after he was last seen around 6:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the Baldwin Drive/Mayfield Road area near his home. Police statements during the search said he left on foot and did not have his phone with him, raising concern that he may have needed help.
Timeline: from disappearance to recovery
| Date (ET) | What happened |
|---|---|
| Tue, Feb. 3 | Smith last seen around 6:00 a.m. near Baldwin Dr./Mayfield Rd., Milton |
| Feb. 3–6 | Search expands around Mayfield Park with K-9 units and water-focused efforts |
| Fri, Feb. 6 | Divers recover a body from a pond near Mayfield Park just before noon |
Officials have not publicly released a detailed account of where Smith was seen after leaving home, what routes he may have taken, or whether there were confirmed sightings during the search window.
The search around Mayfield Park
The search centered on Mayfield Park and surrounding areas, including nearby water. Authorities used K-9 resources and coordinated with local fire/rescue dive teams as they worked through multiple days of search activity.
Police earlier described Smith as potentially disoriented and in possible need of assistance. That characterization shaped the response: a rapid expansion of search zones, a focus on areas reachable on foot, and targeted checks of wooded and water-adjacent terrain.
Who is DJ Young Slade?
Nathan Smith performed under the name DJ Young Slade and had been active as a DJ and musician. The missing-person alert described him as 27 years old and based in the Milton area at the time he disappeared. Public attention intensified because of his family connection to Lil Jon, but the search itself was treated as a local missing-person case with escalating urgency.
Lil Jon and Smith’s mother, Nicole Smith, have previously shared him publicly at times and had asked for privacy as the search unfolded.
What happens next in the investigation
Two near-term steps will determine what information becomes public next:
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Formal identification and cause-of-death determination. The medical examiner’s office will confirm identity and work through autopsy findings, including cause and manner of death. Those results can take time depending on case complexity and lab needs.
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A reconstructed timeline. Investigators typically build a minute-by-minute account using phone records (if available), surveillance footage from nearby homes or businesses, witness statements, and any physical evidence recovered from the scene or the surrounding area.
Police have said there were no immediate indicators of foul play, but that does not close off investigative avenues. It reflects what investigators can support at the moment of recovery, before forensic and medical findings are complete.
What the public should do with rumors and “updates”
High-interest missing-person cases often generate fast-moving claims online. In situations like this, details can be wrong or incomplete, especially around “confirmed” sightings or alleged motives. The most dependable updates will be those that match official releases or are reflected in court or medical-examiner documentation once available.
For community members who may have relevant information from the days Smith was missing—video footage, eyewitness observations, or tips about movements near Mayfield Park—authorities generally encourage contacting the local police department handling the case.
Sources consulted: People; CBS News; FOX 5 Atlanta; Atlanta News First
