Lion King Broadway star Imani Dia Smith dead at 26, boyfriend charged with murder

A former Broadway performer and young mother was killed in a fatal stabbing in central New Jersey, and her boyfriend has been charged in connection with her death, according to prosecutors.

Imani Dia Smith, 26, was found with multiple stab wounds early Sunday morning, Dec. 21. First responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said in a press release. Smith was a mother to a three-year-old son and had once appeared on Broadway as a child performer in The Lion King.

Shortly after the stabbing, police arrested 35-year-old Jordan Jackson-Small. Prosecutors said the suspect and the victim knew each other, confirming the incident was “not a random act of violence.” According to Smith’s family and a GoFundMe page created in her memory, Jackson-Small was her boyfriend.

Jackson-Small has been 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. He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center while awaiting the outcome of a pre-trial detention hearing.

Smith’s family described her death as “unimaginable” and said they are now focused on raising the young child she leaves behind while coping with their loss. Friends and relatives have rallied around the family in the days since her death, sharing memories of Smith’s talent, warmth, and ambition.

A GoFundMe campaign established to support the family had raised more than $61,000 as of Thursday, Dec. 25. The funds are intended to help cover funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy, lost wages, and legal and administrative costs tied to Smith’s death.

“Imani had her whole life ahead of her. She was a vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented person,” the fundraiser’s description states. “A true triple-threat performer, she most notably played the role of Young Nala on Broadway in Disney’s The Lion King, an experience that reflected the joy, creativity, and light she put into the world, according to Playbill.

The page explains that the financial support will allow Smith’s parents to grieve and care for their family without the added stress of financial instability during an already devastating time. The Edison Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office are asking anyone with information related to Smith’s death to come forward as the investigation continues.

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