Imani Dia Smith's Cause Of Death At 25, 'The Lion King' Actor's BF, Jordan Charged With Her Murder

Imani Dia Smith, a former Broadway child actress known for her role in The Lion King, died at the age of 25 on December 21, 2025. Her death occurred due to unnatural causes, and an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances that led to her demise. Imani's death at such an early age sent her friends, family, and fans into shock. The talented star left the world too soon, and her near and dear ones have been sending condolences to her family. They also created a GoFundMe campaign to cover Imani's funeral costs and for her surviving family's care. She is survived by her parents, two younger siblings, and her 3-year-old son.

What is Imani Dia Smith's cause of death?

Former child artist, Imani Dia Smith, died from multiple stab wounds on December 21, 2025. On the day of her death, the authorities received a 911 call reporting a stabbing, according to Middlesex County prosecutors. As they arrived at the Imani's residence in Edison, New Jersey, to respond to the emergency call, the police found her in critical condition due to a stabbing. Imani was then taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. After an initial investigation into the people around Imani Dia Smith, her boyfriend, Jordan D Jackson-Small, was charged for the unfortunate event, prosecutors revealed.

Jordan was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Imani's passing. In addition to murder, Jackson-Small faced charges of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The investigation of Imani Dia Smith's death is not yet over, and the motive behind her boyfriend's murder of her has not been revealed to the public as of now. The statement released by the authorities regarding the murder shared that Jordan and Imani knew each other well enough for his act. The statement could be read as:

"Smith and Jackson-Small knew each other prior to the incident, thus it was not a random act of violence."

More about Imani Dia Smith

Imani Dia Smith was a former Broadway child actress known for her role as 'Young Nala' in the long-running production of Disney's The Lion King. She performed in the musical from September 2011 to September 2012. Imani's family and colleagues described her as a 'triple-threat' for her excellence in acting, singing, and dancing. She grew up in a theatrical environment, with her mother, Monique Rance-Helper, being a prominent Broadway hair and wig stylist. Monique worked on major productions like Pose, In the Heights, and Once on This Island. Following the news of her daughter's gruesome death, their loved ones have been wondering what might have led Imani's boyfriend to kill her.

Who is Jordan D Jackson-Small, Imani Dia Smith's boyfriend?

Jordan D. Jackson-Small is a 35-year-old resident of Edison, New Jersey, who has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend, former Broadway child star, Imani Dia Smith. Court records indicate that in June 2024, Jackson-Small pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault charge related to a domestic incident that occurred on December 21, 2023. Following that plea, he was accepted into a Pre-Trial Intervention program. As of late December 2025, he is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center in North Brunswick, New Jersey, pending a pre-trial detention hearing.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to Imani Dia Smith's loved ones during this difficult time.

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