SUMMARY
- Nathan Smith, 27, also known as DJ Young Slade, has been missing since Tuesday morning in Milton, Georgia.
- Law enforcement has focused searches on Mayfield Park and a nearby pond using dive teams, K-9 units, and volunteer support.
- The family has requested privacy and called for continued prayers and public assistance in locating Smith.
MILTON, Ga. — Police and rescue teams in suburban Atlanta have intensified efforts to locate Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old adult son of rapper Lil Jon, who was reported missing earlier this week.
Smith, also known professionally as DJ Young Slade, has not been seen since Tuesday morning, when he left his home on Baldwin Drive and Mayfield Road around 6 am on foot, according to the Milton Police Department.
Smith was not carrying a cellphone when he disappeared, making it more difficult for authorities to track his movements.
Local law enforcement has concentrated search operations near Mayfield Park, including a pond close to the neighborhood where he lives. Dive teams and K-9 units have been deployed to comb the area.
Friday afternoon, responders removed an unidentified object from the pond, which was then covered with a tarp and moved to a nearby tent. Officials have not confirmed whether it is connected to the missing person investigation.
Smith, who is pursuing a career in music, is the adult son of Lil Jon, a Grammy-winning rapper and producer known internationally for his contributions to hip-hop and Atlanta’s music scene.
The search for Smith comes amid heightened community concern, with neighbors and local residents reporting unusual activity in the park area and assisting authorities with information.
The Milton Police Department described Smith as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes. Officials said the public is not at risk, but Smith may need assistance if found.
Dr. Emily Harrell, a criminologist at Georgia State University, said that missing adults who leave home without a phone in suburban areas require rapid, coordinated search efforts that combine on the ground patrols with specialized teams.
“Water sources near residential areas can quickly complicate searches,” Harrell said. “Authorities need to act swiftly to cover multiple possible paths the missing person could take.”
Local residents, including Lara Vicars, who lives near Mayfield Park, described the community as anxious but cooperative. “Everyone is keeping an eye out and sharing information with police. It’s tense, but people are coming together to help,” Vicars said.
Police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information to come forward. They said updates will be shared as the search continues. Family representatives are requesting privacy as the search progresses.
The case highlights the importance of rapid community and law enforcement coordination in missing adult cases, particularly when environmental hazards like wooded areas and bodies of water are involved.
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