Musician’s Missing Son Found Dead in Pond

Rapper Lil Jon is grieving an unimaginable loss after his 27-year-old son, Nathan Smith, was found dead in a Georgia pond on Friday. Smith had been missing for three days, sparking a frantic search across Milton before firefighters discovered a body shortly before noon.

Police told RadarOnline.com the body is believed to be Nathan’s, a heartbreaking confirmation Lil Jon later publicly shared.

According to investigators, Cherokee County Fire Department drivers located and recovered the body from a pond around 11:53 a.m. on February 6. While an official ID is still pending with the Fulton County Medical Examiner, authorities say all signs point to Nathan.

Police noted they do not suspect foul play at this time. However, they emphasized the case remains open while investigators follow every lead.

After the grim discovery, Lil Jon released an emotional statement describing the depth of his family’s grief.

“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith,” he said. “His mother, Nicole, and I are devastated. Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet… caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted.”

The rapper added that his son, an NYU graduate and talented producer, “loved his family and friends to the fullest” and that the family felt grateful they had expressed their love to him in recent days.

Nathan was reported missing on the morning of February 3 after leaving his Milton home under what police described as “unusual circumstances.” Officers immediately launched search efforts alongside multiple agencies.

Early reports revealed Nathan may have run from the home without clothes or a cellphone around 6 a.m., and authorities warned he could be disoriented and in need of help.

Milton Police continued to update the public, stressing that any information — even the smallest detail — could assist the search.

In the days before the discovery, Lil Jon’s representative asked fans for prayers, saying the family was hoping desperately for Nathan’s safe return.

Nathan was the rapper’s son with his ex-wife, Nicole Smith. The two were married from 2004 to 2022.

As the investigation continues, the Milton Police Department is urging privacy for the grieving family while they await final findings from the medical examiner.