Former *Lion King* Broadway Child Star Imani Dia Smith, 25, Fatally Stabbed in New Jersey; Boyfriend Charged With Murder

Former child star Imani Dia Smith, best known for portraying Young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King, has been fatally stabbed in a shocking incident in the United States.

Smith, 25, was discovered at her home in Edison, New Jersey on December 21 with multiple stab wounds after police responded to a 911 call at around 9:18 a.m. She was transported to a nearby hospital in New Brunswick, where she was later pronounced dead.

Edison police and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office have charged Smith’s boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a child, and multiple weapons offenses. Prosecutors have indicated they will argue the attack was not random.

Jackson-Small was arrested “without incident” and is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Centre as he awaits a pre-trial hearing.

Smith first gained recognition as a child when she performed as Young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King from 2011 to 2012. She was widely praised for her stage presence, and her family remembered her as a “vivacious, loving and fiercely talented person.” Her role in the Disney stage production was her first and only major performance credit.

Smith is survived by her three-year-old son.

Following her death, Smith’s aunt, Kira Helper, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, trauma support for Smith’s son and family, legal costs, and pet care. The fundraiser has already collected tens of thousands of dollars, with many messages from supporters expressing their heartbreak.

“Imani had her whole life ahead of her,” one person wrote.

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, and no alleged motive has been publicly released.