Former Broadway child star allegedly killed by boyfriend in NJ ‘had her whole life ahead of her’: family
Former Broadway Actress Imani Smith Killed in New Jersey Home
A 26‑year‑old former Broadway performer was found dead in her Edison, New Jersey home on Sunday morning, police say. Imani Smith, who made headlines as the young Nala in Disney’s hit show The Lion King during 2011‑2012, was stabbed by her boyfriend, 35‑year‑old Jordan D. Jackson Small, according to Middlesex County officials.
Authorities were dispatched at roughly 9:18 a.m. to a residence on Grove Avenue after receiving a call. When officers arrived, they discovered Smith with multiple stab wounds and transported her to a nearby trauma center. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Jackson Small was taken into custody on charges of murder, endangering the welfare of a child and illegal possession of a weapon. He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center and will appear before a judge shortly.
Smith, a single mother to a three‑year‑old son, was mourned by her family and friends just weeks before the holiday season. A GoFundMe page set up by her relatives highlights her talent and charisma. As one aunt, Kira Helper, wrote, “Imani had her whole life ahead of her. She was vivacious, loving and a fiercely talented person… A true triple‑threat performer, she most notably played the role of Young Nala on Broadway in Disney’s Lion King—an experience that reflected the joy, creativity, and light she put into the world.”
The family is now grappling with the loss of their daughter while stepping in to raise her young son between them. The tragic incident has left the community in shock and the investigation underway.
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