According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Smith died in Edison, New Jersey, after being stabbed on Sunday, December 21. Authorities identified her as 26 years old, though theater outlets have reported her age as 25.
Imani Dia Smith, former Broadway child actress best known for her role as Young Nala in Disney’s The Lion King, has sadly passed away at the age of 25. pic.twitter.com/GwtO1PEsoX
— The DisInsider (@TheDisInsider) December 24, 2025On Tuesday, December 23, authorities announced the arrest of 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small. According to the official press release, he has been 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 currently being held pending a pre-trial detention hearing. Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Jackson-Small is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
In the days following her death, Smith’s family shared a statement through a GoFundMe organized by her aunt, Kira Helper. In the post, the family described her death as “senseless” and confirmed she leaves behind a 3-year-old son, along with her parents, siblings, and extended family.
(Please donate to the family if you can ??❤️?) t.co/rCK7iTWewS
— Ashley D. (@sports_chick87) December 24, 2025According to the fundraiser, the family is now focused on supporting Smith’s parents, Monique Rance-Helper and Rawni Helper, as they grieve their daughter while also stepping in to care for her young son and support their other children. The GoFundMe notes that the funds will help cover funeral and memorial expenses, trauma therapy for the family, and ongoing care for Smith’s son, among other costs tied to the tragedy.
“Our hope,” the family wrote, “is that these funds will give Imani’s parents the ability to focus on what matters most: grieving their daughter, caring for their grandson, and helping their children begin to heal — without the added fear of financial instability.”
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