Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Imani Dia Smith, a former child actress who captured audiences as Young Nala in the Broadway production of The Lion King, has been fatally stabbed at the age of 25 in Edison, New Jersey, authorities confirmed. The tragic death has shocked the theatre community and fans around the world and has led to criminal charges against her boyfriend.
Police in Edison, Middlesex County responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at a residence on Grove Avenue on the morning of December 21, 2025. Officers found Smith with multiple stab wounds and she was immediately transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, identified as Smith’s boyfriend, was arrested without incident and charged by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. The charges include 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. Prosecutors noted that Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident, and authorities do not believe the attack was a random act of violence.
Jackson-Small is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing, and the investigation into the fatal stabbing remains active. Law enforcement has urged anyone with information to come forward as the case progresses through the legal system.
Smith’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from friends, colleagues and fans, with many remembering her as a vivacious, talented performer whose early success on Broadway hinted at a promising future in the arts. She had performed as Young Nala in The Lion King from September 27, 2011 to September 23, 2012, a role that brought her recognition as a youthful stage talent.
In the wake of her passing, Smith’s family — including her three-year-old son, parents, two younger siblings, and extended relatives — are mourning her loss and facing the difficult practical and emotional challenges that follow such a tragedy. A GoFundMe campaign organised by her aunt, Kira Helper, has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support funeral and memorial services, trauma counselling for Smith’s young child and family, legal costs associated with the criminal case, and other expenses during this difficult period. Supporters have shared heartfelt messages celebrating her life and artistic contributions.
Smith’s mother, Monique Rance-Helper, is a hairstylist with extensive Broadway and film credits, and many in the theatre community have expressed profound sorrow over the loss of a young life with deep creative roots and close ties to the performing arts world.
As the legal process unfolds, her family and community continue to call for justice, while friends and fans remember Imani Dia Smith for her early theatrical achievements and the warmth and talent she brought to those around her.
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