Cause of Death for Lil Jon's Son Nathan Smith Revealed to Be Drowning

Rachel Raposas, Daniela Avila, Gillian TellingFri, February 27, 2026 at 6:30 PM UTC

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Lil Jon and Nathan Smith in New York City in October 2018Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty -

The cause of death for Lil Jon's son Nathan Smith has been determined

Smith, a.k.a. DJ Young Slade, was reported missing on Feb. 3 after leaving his Milton, Georgia residence "under unusual circumstances"

Three days later, police found a body in a nearby pond, believed to be Smith

The cause of death for Nathan Smith, Lil Jon's late son, has been determined.

Less than a month after a body believed to be Smith's was discovered in a pond near the family home on Friday, Feb. 6, the Fulton County Medical Examiner found Smith's cause of death to be "drowning in the setting of psilocybin use" and the manner of death to be an accident, according to an autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE.

Per the report, a blood sample tested positive for psilocybin, which is described as "a pharmacologically active hallucinogenic compound of psilocybin — hallucinogenic mushrooms."

Under the pathologic diagnosis, the report also confirms that Smith's body was recovered from a retention pond and states there was water-immersion wrinkling in his hands.

The discovery of the body came three days after 27-year-old Smith, a.k.a. DJ Young Slade, was reported missing "under unusual circumstances" from his residence in Milton, Georgia, per a statement from the Milton Police Department on Feb. 6.

PEOPLE reached out to Smith's family for comment.

Lil Jon and DJ Young Slade in New York City in August 2016Credit: Chance Yeh/Getty

"After being unable to locate Mr. Smith during that time, teams expanded the search to include a pond in Mayfield Park near Smith’s Milton residence," the statement read. "On February 6, 2026, at approximately 11:53 a.m., divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department located and recovered a body from the pond. The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office."

Police saw "no indication of foul play," per the statement, but reported that the investigation into his death remained ongoing.

The Milton Police Department noted that no additional information would be released until the Fulton County Medical Examiner determined the official cause and manner of death, and "all investigative leads have been thoroughly examined." The department then asked for privacy for the Smith family amid the tragic news.

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Not long after Milton Police's announcement that they believed Smith was dead, Lil Jon shared a statement of his own with PEOPLE.

Nathan Smith, a.k.a. DJ Young Slade in Georgia in May 2025Credit: Julia Beverly/Getty

"I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother and I are devastated," the rapper said. "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. He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU."

"We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him," the statement continued. "He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him."

Lil Jon then thanked all who supported and prayed for his family during the search for Smith, and thanked the Milton Police Department for its efforts in finding his son.

Police initially issued a missing person report for Smith on Feb. 3 in a post on social media. Authorities stated Smith was last seen around 6 a.m. "in the vicinity of Baldwin Dr./Mayfield Rd. in Milton," and "may be disoriented and in need of assistance."

"Subject ran out of his house and has been missing since. Subject left on foot and does not possess a phone," the statement read, adding, "Family and friends are concerned for his safety."

Lil Jon, Nicole Smith and Nathan Smith in New York City in November 2019Credit: Steven Ferdman/Getty

Smith, a DJ and musician, was the son of Lil Jon (born Jonathan Smith) and his ex-wife Nicole Smith, who married in 2004 and announced in February 2024 that they had split amicably two years prior.

Lil Jon announced earlier this month that his son had been laid to rest on Feb. 18, adding, "I love you, son. Life will never be the same without you. Allah, give me strength."

The "Yeah" musician then expressed gratitude for those who "reached out with condolences, love, and prayers" and said "I will make sure the world knows your talent and never forgets your name. Nathan Murray Smith."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”