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Partner Charged With Murder in Stabbing Death of Former 'Lion King' Child Actor Imani Dia Smith

Authorities say he is jailed pending court proceedings, with no motive publicly disclosed.

Overview

  • Police responded on December 21 to a 911 call at Smith’s Edison, New Jersey residence and found her with stab wounds before she was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
  • Investigators identified her partner, Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, who was arrested on December 23 and charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of a minor, and related weapons offenses.
  • Prosecutors say a three-year-old child was allegedly present during the attack, leading to the endangering charge.
  • Jackson-Small is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending a pretrial detention hearing as the case remains open.
  • Smith’s family launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses, trauma therapy, and ongoing care for her son, with donations reported to have surpassed $60,000.