Summary (tl;dr)

Former Broadway child actress Imani Dia Smith, 25, has tragically died after being found with stab wounds in Edison, New Jersey, with her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, subsequently arrested and charged with her murder.

Essential Background

Imani Dia Smith was known for her role as Young Nala in Disney's "The Lion King" on Broadway, performing from September 2011 to September 2012. Her mother, Monique Rance-Helper, is a hairdresser for Broadway, television, and film productions. Smith leaves behind a 3-year-old son, her parents, and two younger siblings.

The Full Story

Imani Dia Smith was discovered with multiple stab wounds at a residence in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, December 21, following a 911 call reporting a stabbing. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead. Her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested on December 23 and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and multiple weapons offenses. Authorities have stated that the incident was not random, as Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other. A GoFundMe campaign has been established by Smith's aunt to assist her family with funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy, legal costs, and the care of her son. The fundraiser has already exceeded its initial goal.

Why It Matters

This tragic event highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence and has deeply affected the Broadway community and those who knew Smith. The overwhelming support shown through the GoFundMe campaign underscores public concern and sympathy for the victim's family, particularly her young son, as they navigate this profound loss and the legal proceedings that will follow.

Geographic Location

• Edison, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States (location where Imani Dia Smith was found with stab wounds and where Jordan D. Jackson-Small was arrested)
• New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States (location of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where Imani Dia Smith was pronounced dead)