Broadway actress Imani Dia Smith, 26, was found dead after a stabbing at her home in Edison, New Jersey, according to police.
The Incident
Edison police responded on Sunday morning to reports of a stabbing. They discovered Smith, who had been taken to a hospital for treatment, was pronounced dead. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the fatal outcome.
Background
Smith was best known for playing young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King from 2011 to 2012. She also has a 3-year-old son. Her mother, a hair stylist, has worked in theater, Broadway, and television productions, including The Lion King and the film adaptation of In the Heights.
Arrest and Charges
Investigators arrested Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, who was known to Smith. He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center awaiting a court hearing. Jackson-Small faces the following charges:
- First-degree murder
- Second-degree endangering the welfare of a child
- Third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
- Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
No attorney has been listed for him as of Thursday.
Family Response
A GoFundMe page was launched by Smith’s aunt, who stated that Smith was “killed by her boyfriend.” The page notes that Smith was a “vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person” and that she “had her whole life ahead of her.”
Key Takeaways
- Imani Dia Smith, 26, was stabbed to death in Edison, New Jersey.
- Former child star of The Lion King and mother of a 3-year-old.
- Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, arrested and charged with multiple offenses.
The tragic case has shocked the local community and the theater world alike.
