Morgan Freeman's step-granddaughter knew her boyfriend Lamar Davenport was ''troubled'' before he allegedly performed an ''exorcism'' on her.

The 30-year-old man was arrested at approximately 3am on Sunday morning (16.08.15) for second-degree murder when the body of E'Dena Hines, 33, was found outside her New York apartment after being stabbed multiple times, with the murderer reportedly shouting, ''get out, devils!'' while killing her.

The aspiring actress met Lamar while studying at New York University but friends claim it was her beau who had prevented her from achieving her dreams of stardom, with industry pal, writer and theatre director Carl Hancock Rux saying it was clear Lamar - who was convicted for drug possession in February - had issues.

He said: ''She saw him as a troubled person, but she never mentioned anything to me about being in trouble.

''She only said that she felt he had a lot of issues. I guess she expected that he'd be OK.''

However, E'Dena was finally getting her acting career off the ground when the tragic incident occurred, having landed a role in the independent film 'Landing Up', which began filming last month.

Writing on her blog after being given the part, she said: ''My dream has come true and it's just beginning.

''Life can make you want to give up or walk away; sometimes it gives you the strength to appreciate when you do get your happy ending.''

And although she had a small role in Morgan's 2014 movie '5 Flights Up', E'Dena - whose mother was adopted by the 'Shawshank Redemption' star - never relied on him to make her a star.

Carl told the New York Daily News newspaper: ''E'Dena was incredibly self-sufficient, vocal and incredibly talented.

''She was not the type of person who relied on her grandfather to cast her or book her shows. She was starting from scratch just like everyone else.''