A past child performer on Broadway, known for her role in “The Lion King,” was fatally stabbed in Edison, New Jersey. Her boyfriend is now facing murder charges linked to her death.
Imani Dia Smith, 26, was discovered with stab injuries at a home on the morning of Sunday, December 21, 2025. She was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, was taken into custody without resistance and charged in relation to Smith’s death. His charges include first-degree murder, second-degree child endangerment, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Smith and Jackson-Small were a couple and had a three-year-old son together. The investigators have concluded that this was not a random act of violence.
Jackson-Small was brought to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center and is awaiting a pretrial detention hearing.
Smith portrayed Young Nala in “The Lion King” on Broadway from September 27, 2011, to September 23, 2012. This role in the famed Disney musical marked a highlight of her burgeoning career in performance. Smith’s mother, a Broadway production hairstylist, provided the gateway to the theater world that influenced Smith’s early years.
Smith leaves behind her parents, Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, two younger siblings, and her three-year-old son, who will now grow up without his mother.
Family members have established a GoFundMe campaign to support Smith’s relatives during this challenging time. Kira Helper, Smith’s aunt, initiated the fundraising drive to aid the family with costs and to support Smith’s parents as they take on the responsibility of raising their grandson. “Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” her aunt wrote. “She was a vivacious, loving, and fiercely talented person.”
The fundraising initiative has received substantial community support, raising over $79,000, with donations still being accepted. The funds will be used to cover funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup, trauma therapy for the family, legal costs, and ongoing care for Smith’s three-year-old son and her dog.
Smith’s brief yet impactful turn on Broadway occurred during her formative years, when she appeared in one of the most successful theater productions ever. “The Lion King” has been a Broadway mainstay for years, serving as a launchpad for many young performers. Smith’s role as Young Nala put her among a select group of child actors who have performed at the Minskoff Theatre in the beloved production.
The charges against Jackson-Small underscore the seriousness of the allegations. First-degree murder is the most severe homicide charge in New Jersey. The weapons charges point to the recovery of evidence tied to the stabbing at the Edison home.
Edison, a community in central New Jersey and approximately 30 miles southwest of New York City, is mourning the loss of a former performer who once delighted Broadway audiences.
The theater community has lost a former member who represented the future of Broadway talent. Smith’s performance years spanned 2011 to 2012, when she was honing her skills as her family described her as a “true triple-threat performer,” excelling in singing, dancing, and acting.
Jackson-Small’s legal proceedings will continue as he remains in custody at the corrections facility. The pretrial detention hearing will determine whether he will remain held without bail as the case progresses through the New Jersey court system.
