Former Broadway child actor Imani Dia Smith, best known for voicing Young Nala in The Lion King, was fatally stabbed at a home in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, December 21. She was 25.
According to prosecutors, Smith was found with stab wounds after a 911 call reported a stabbing. She was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she was pronounced dead.
Boyfriend Charged With Murder
Smith’s boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, was arrested on December 23 and charged with 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.
Authorities have not released further details about the motive or circumstances beyond the charges announced.
Who Is Jordan D. Jackson-Small
Jackson-Small has been identified by prosecutors as Smith’s boyfriend and the suspect in the case. A GoFundMe page launched by Smith’s aunt alleges that Jackson-Small “senselessly killed” her.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing.
Family, Fundraiser, and Legacy
Smith is survived by her young child, her parents, two younger siblings, and extended family. A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by her aunt has raised more than $46,000 to assist with funeral and memorial expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy, legal costs, and care for Smith’s child and dog.
Described by family as a “true triple-threat performer,” Smith appeared in The Lion King on Broadway between 2011 and 2012. Loved ones remembered her as vivacious, creative, and fiercely talented.
