The son of rapper Lil Jon is believed to have been discovered dead several days after he was reported missing from his home in the US state of Georgia, according to authorities.
According to reports by BBC, Nathan Smith a musician who performed under the name DJ Young Slade was reported missing after police said he ran out of his home early Tuesday morning without carrying his phone.
Following several days of search efforts, the Milton Police Department announced that a body believed to be Smith was found in a pond located close to his home. Officials said the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to officially confirm the identity and cause of death.
“Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play,” police said, adding they will continue to examine what led to his death.
Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Jon, released a statement to BBC News saying he and Smith’s mother, Nicole Smith, were devastated by the loss.
“Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted,” Lil Jon said in the statement.
“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.”
Police reported that they were alerted about Smith’s disappearance on Tuesday morning after the 27-year-old left his residence under what authorities described as unusual circumstances.
Earlier missing person notices released by law enforcement stated that Smith left his home on foot and might have been confused or in need of help. The notice also highlighted that his family and friends were deeply worried about his well being.
The pond where the body was recovered on Friday morning is located a short distance from Smith’s residence in Milton, a city approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Atlanta the city where Lil Jon built his music career.
Lil Jon and his son were often seen together publicly, including an appearance last year when they competed together on an episode of the television game show Family Feud.
“He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU,” Lil Jon wrote in his statement.
Authorities have said that no additional details will be released until medical examiners complete their investigation and determine the official cause and manner of death.
News reports state that Smith had gone missing earlier in the week after leaving his home in Milton, prompting an extensive search operation that involved multiple agencies and divers before the body was discovered in a nearby pond.