A former Broadway child actress, who once starred in Disney's The Lion King, has been tragically murdered in a domestic violence incident in the United States.
Star of the Stage Found Dead
Imani Dia Smith, aged 25, was found with fatal stab wounds at a property in Edison, New Jersey, on Sunday, December 21st. According to reports from TMZ and a press release by Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan, emergency services were called to the scene. Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Boyfriend Charged with First-Degree Murder
Authorities have arrested and charged Smith's boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, in direct connection with her death. The charges levied against him are severe and include first-degree murder. He also faces counts of endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
The tragedy has been confirmed by Smith's family through a GoFundMe page organised by her aunt, which names Jackson-Small as the perpetrator. The page describes the killing as 'senseless', occurring just days before Christmas.
A Life of Promise Cut Short
Imani Dia Smith was a talented performer whose career began on the prestigious stages of Broadway. She performed the role of Young Nala in The Lion King on Broadway from September 2011 to September 2012. Described by her family as a 'vivacious, loving and fiercely talented triple-threat', her future in the arts was bright.
Her death leaves behind a devastated family, including her parents, two younger siblings, and her three-year-old son. The GoFundMe campaign aims to support the family with immediate costs, which include funeral expenses, trauma therapy for her son and family, crime scene cleanup, and ongoing care for her child and her dog.
The case highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence, cutting short the life of a young artist with immense promise and leaving a young child without a mother.
