A 26-year-old former Broadway actress was stabbed to death over the weekend, authorities said.
The Incident
On Sunday morning, Edison police were dispatched to a home after reports of a stabbing. They found 26-year-old Imani Dia Smith, who was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead.
The Victim
Smith, who played young Nala in Broadway’s “The Lion King” from 2011 to 2012, was survived by a 3-year-old son. A GoFundMe page launched by her aunt states she was “killed by her boyfriend.” The aunt wrote, “Imani had her whole life ahead of her. She was a vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person.” The mother is a hair stylist who has worked in theater, Broadway and television productions including “The Lion King” show and the film adaption of “In the Heights,” the publication said.
The Arrest
Investigators arrested 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, who knew Smith but whose relationship was not disclosed. He faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Jackson-Small is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center awaiting a court hearing; no attorney has been listed.
Key Takeaways
- Imani Dia Smith, 26, was stabbed to death over the weekend.
- Her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses.
- A GoFundMe page claims she was killed by her boyfriend and notes her 3-year-old son.
The case highlights a tragic loss of a young talent who once lit up Broadway stages, and the investigation continues as authorities seek justice.
