Key Insights
- Tragic Event: Imani Dia Smith, a former Broadway star, has passed away during the holiday season.
- Incident Details: The 26-year-old was found stabbed and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
- Survivors: She leaves behind her 3-year-old son and her parents, Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper.
- Suspect Arrested: Jordan D. Jackson-Small has been arrested in connection with her death.
Imani Dia Smith‘s family is navigating the unimaginable this holiday season.
The 26-year-old, who portrayed Young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King from 2011 to 2012, died on Dec. 21, New Jersey officials confirmed in a press release.
Smith, who was found stabbed by authorities responding to a 911 call, was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. She is survived by her 3-year-old son, parents Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, and her two siblings.
Following her death, police announced the arrest of a suspect, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small.
Though officials didn’t share the nature of their relationship, the press release noted, “Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident, thus it was not a random act of violence.”
“Jackson-Small was arrested without incident,” authorities confirmed, “and charged with first-degree Murder, second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.”
He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending the results of a pre-trial detention hearing.
