Broadway's The Lion King Actress Tragically Murdered in Edison, NJ

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department announced today that an Edison man has been arrested and charged in connection with the homicide that occurred in Edison.

On December 21, 2025, at 9:18 A.M., authorities received a 911 call reporting a stabbing. Upon their arrival to a residence on Grove Avenue, they discovered Imani Smith, 26, of Edison with stab wounds. Smith was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where she was ultimately pronounced deceased.

Initial investigation led by Detective Kevin Kirsh of the Edison Police Department and Detective Olivia Ankudowicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, led to the arrest of Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, of Edison. Moreover, 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 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. Jackson-Small is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending the results of his Pre-Trial detention hearing.

This is an active and ongoing investigation, anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kirsh of the Edison Police Department at 732-718-8064 or Detective Ankudowicz of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745- 8083.

As with all criminal defendants, the charges against Jackson-Small are just allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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