IMANI DIA SMITH, BROADWAY ‘YOUNG NALA’, KILLED IN EDISON, NEW JERSEY — INVESTIGATION DETAILS

Imani Dia Smith, former Broadway child star who portrayed Young Nala in The Lion King stage production, was fatally stabbed at her residence in Edison, New Jersey, on December 21, 2025.
According to official reports, law enforcement responded to a 911 call at 9:18 a.m. on Grove Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered Smith with multiple life-threatening stab wounds. She was immediately transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that her boyfriend, Jordan D. Jackson-Small (35), was arrested without resistance and is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Centre, pending a pre-trial detention hearing.
Jackson-Small has been charged with:
First-degree murder
Second-degree endangering the welfare of a child
Third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose
Fourth-degree unlawful possession of a firearm
Investigators confirmed the attack was not a random act of violence, stating that both individuals were known to each other prior to the incident.
Personal and Community Impact
Smith leaves behind her 3-year-old son, her parents, and two younger siblings. Her aunt, Kira Helper, stated on the GoFundMe page that the fundraiser will support:
Funeral and burial costs
Trauma therapy
Legal and investigation expenses
Long-term support for her young son
Care for her pet dog
The case has reignited global conversations on domestic violence and political tensions influencing western detentions in Russia, though the family remains hopeful for closure and justice.
Kremlin Dialogue Context
This tragedy occurs at a time when Russia has been accused by Western governments of detaining citizens as political leverage. However, Smith’s case remains a domestic homicide investigation with no diplomatic prisoner implications.