On February 27, 2026, the Fulton County Medical Examiner announced that Nathan Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade and the 27-year-old son of rapper Lil Jon, died from an accidental drowning in the context of psilocybin use. Smith’s body was recovered on February 6 in a pond near his Milton, Georgia, home about 30 miles north of Atlanta after he had been reported missing days earlier. The medical examiner reported psilocybin — a hallucinogenic compound found in certain mushrooms — was detected in his blood, and the manner of death was ruled an accident. The office delivered its findings to family and law enforcement before issuing a public advisory.
Key Takeaways
- Nathan Smith (stage name DJ Young Slade), age 27, was ruled to have died by accidental drowning by the Fulton County Medical Examiner on February 27, 2026.
- The examiner listed the cause as “drowning in the setting of psilocybin use,” and reported psilocybin present in Smith’s blood.
- Smith’s body was found on February 6, 2026, in a pond near his home in Milton, Georgia, roughly 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta.
- The manner of death was classified as an accident; no immediate criminal charges were announced by investigators tied to the discovery.
- Family statements noted the discovery followed several days during which Smith had been reported missing.
- Public reaction has included expressions of grief from fans and peers, and renewed discussion about psychedelic substances and safety.
Background
Nathan Smith performed under the name DJ Young Slade and was publicly identified as the son of rapper and producer Lil Jon. The family drew media attention after Smith was reported missing in early February 2026, prompting local search efforts and subsequent discovery of his body on February 6 in a pond adjacent to his Milton residence. Fulton County, which includes much of the Atlanta metropolitan area, maintains a medical examiner’s office that investigates sudden and unexplained deaths and issues determinations about cause and manner.
In recent years, psilocybin has become a subject of heightened public debate: some jurisdictions are revisiting criminal penalties and research into therapeutic uses, while others maintain full prohibition. Georgia law continues to criminalize possession of psilocybin, and federal statutes classify it as a controlled substance. High-profile deaths that reference substances often spur public discussion about harm-reduction, medical oversight, and the limits of after-the-fact forensic findings.
Main Event
Local authorities responded after a missing-person report; search teams located Smith’s body in a pond near his Milton home on February 6. Investigators secured the scene and referred the case to the Fulton County Medical Examiner for autopsy and toxicology. The examiner completed post-mortem testing and on February 27, 2026, issued a report attributing the primary cause to drowning with contributory detection of psilocybin in blood samples.
The examiner’s report described the manner of death as accidental and noted the presence of a hallucinogenic compound rather than identifying an intent or deliberate act. Law enforcement officials who reviewed the scene and the medical examiner’s findings indicated no immediate evidence suggesting foul play; their inquiries are consistent with routine procedures following an unexpected death. Family members were notified of the autopsy result prior to the public release.
Public statements from those close to Smith emphasized mourning and remembrance rather than technical details of the report. Lil Jon offered a public tribute characterizing his son as caring and warmhearted, and family representatives asked for privacy while they grieve. Officials reiterated that toxicology findings establish presence of a substance but do not alone explain behavior in the hours before an incident.
Analysis & Implications
The medical examiner’s conclusion that drowning occurred in the setting of psilocybin use raises both forensic and public-health questions. Forensic pathologists distinguish cause (the physiological event leading to death) from contributing factors (substances or conditions that may have affected the decedent’s capacity to survive). Here, drowning is the proximate cause; psilocybin detection is a contributing finding that helps contextualize circumstances but does not by itself describe intent or precise impairment level.
From a public-health perspective, the case underscores risks associated with hallucinogens in unsupervised settings. Psilocybin can produce perceptual changes, disorientation, and impaired judgment in some users, which may increase the risk of accidental injury around hazards such as open water. Harm-reduction advocates argue that awareness, controlled environments, and access to emergency care reduce risks, while critics note legal restrictions and variability in potency complicate safe use.
Legally, Georgia continues to prohibit psilocybin possession and distribution, so possession could carry criminal exposure if identified; however, the medical examiner’s report itself does not equate to criminal charging. Investigations of deaths tied to substance use typically involve separate law-enforcement determinations about possible negligence or third-party responsibility, and authorities in this case have not announced charges tied to the medical findings.
Comparison & Data
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nathan Smith’s body located in a pond near his Milton, GA home after he had been reported missing. | |
| Fulton County Medical Examiner releases autopsy finding: drowning in the setting of psilocybin use; manner ruled accidental. |
The table above summarizes the confirmed timeline from discovery to the public release of the autopsy. While forensic timelines for toxicology can vary, the roughly three-week span between discovery and release is consistent with comprehensive testing and case review in many jurisdictions.
Reactions & Quotes
Family and fans responded quickly after the release of the medical examiner’s finding, merging grief with calls for privacy and clarity. Music industry colleagues and supporters posted condolences and emphasized Smith’s artistic contributions and personal warmth.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner reported that the cause of death was drowning and noted detection of psilocybin in post-mortem testing; the manner was recorded as accidental.
Fulton County Medical Examiner (official)
Officials framed their statement to focus on the technical findings and to explain that the presence of a substance is part of a broader investigatory picture rather than a standalone explanation of actions before death.
Family statements described Smith as a loving and thoughtful son, asking for space to grieve while acknowledging public interest in the case.
Family statement reported by media
Lil Jon’s remarks, as relayed through representatives and social posts, centered on remembrance and the family’s request for privacy while they process the loss.
Unconfirmed
- Whether psilocybin ingestion was deliberate, accidental, or administered by another person has not been established and remains unreported by investigators.
- No publicly released toxicology quantification or timeline indicates exactly when psilocybin entered Smith’s system relative to the time of death.
- There is no public confirmation of any criminal investigation or charges specifically linked to possession or distribution in this matter as of the autopsy release.
Bottom Line
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s determination—drowning with psilocybin present, manner accidental—provides a clear forensic conclusion about cause and basic context but leaves open several practical questions about the circumstances leading up to the death. Toxicology establishes presence of a compound, not intent or precise impairment at the time of the incident; investigators and family statements reflect that distinction.
For the public and policymakers, the case highlights tensions between evolving conversations about psychedelic substances and the realities of unregulated use in uncontrolled settings. Observers should expect continued focus from family, fans, and local authorities, and any further official updates will be critical to fill the gaps that the autopsy summary does not address.
Sources
- TMZ (entertainment news report summarizing medical examiner findings)
- Fulton County Government — Medical Examiner (official county office responsible for autopsy and death determinations)