Lil Jon's son Nathan Smith found dead in Georgia's pond after days-long search; rapper says, "This hurts so bad"

The heartbreaking discovery was made on Friday, February 6, bringing a tragic end to days of frantic searching.

• Lil Jon's son Nathan Smith found dead after days of searching in Georgia pond
• Nathan was reported missing after leaving home barefoot and without his phone
• Police found no indication of foul play; investigation remains ongoing

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Rapper Lil Jon and his family are mourning an unimaginable loss after his son, Nathan Smith, who had been reported missing earlier this week, was found dead by the Milton Police Department in a pond at Mayfield Park, Georgia.

The heartbreaking discovery was made on Friday, February 6, bringing a tragic end to days of frantic searching. Nathan had gone missing from his home under circumstances authorities described as concerning. The first alert was issued on Tuesday, February 3, after Nathan reportedly left his residence around 6 a.m. in what police termed “unusual circumstances.”

According to details shared in the initial missing person report, Nathan had run out of the house barefoot and without his phone. Investigators noted that his state raised fears that he may have been “disoriented and in need of assistance,” prompting immediate concern for his safety.

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Search operations intensified rapidly, expanding beyond a neighbourhood canvass to involve K-9 units and dive teams from multiple nearby counties. The coordinated effort continued for several days. At approximately 11:53 a.m. on Friday, divers from the Cherokee County Fire Department located a body in the water close to Nathan’s residence.

While the Fulton County Medical Examiner has yet to issue official confirmation, the Milton Police Department stated that authorities believe the deceased individual is Nathan Smith. Police also clarified that there is “no indication of foul play,” though the investigation remains open and ongoing.

Soon after the police announcement, Lil Jon released an emotional statement addressing the devastating loss shared by him and Nathan’s mother, Nicole Smith. “I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother and I are devastated,” the rapper said.

Remembering his son, Lil Jon described Nathan as a rare and beautiful presence in their lives. “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 further stated, "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."

The statement continued: "We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we're comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him. Thank you for all of the prayers and support in trying to locate him over the last several days."

Also read: Rapper Lil Jon's son Nathan Smith reported missing in Georgia, police issue alert; family seeks prayers

Sharing his grief publicly, Lil Jon also posted a tribute on Instagram on Friday, writing, "This hurts so bad. I love you son."

Lil Jon has previously spoken about Nathan’s early passion for music. According to People, Nathan began DJing at the age of 11 and graduated from the Scratch DJ Academy in Los Angeles at just 12. During his teenage years, he performed as a DJ at several Los Angeles clubs before going on to create his own music.