UPDATE: Stepmother Charged with Murder by Abuse of Smyrna 10-Year-Old; Father Remains in Custody
UPDATE: Delaware State Police have taken the stepmother of 10-year-old Fatima Kone into custody as they continue to investigate the child’s death.
Authorities say the United States Marshals Service’s First State Fugitive Task Force and the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force took 37-year-old Adiaratou Coulibaly of Smyrna into custody in New York City on Friday, Jun. 5. Upon being extradited to Delaware, Coulibaly will be charged with murder by abuse or second degree neglect.
During the homicide investigation into Fatima’s death, investigators determined that Coulibaly was involved in the circumstances surrounding Fatima’s death. It was revealed that after the incident with Fatima’s father, Badara Kone, the abuse continued in other areas of the home, carried out by Coulibaly. Police say Coulibaly subjected Fatima to severe and prolonged abuse using various objects and forced exercises.
On Jun. 3, the Delaware Department of Justice authorized charges against Coulibaly and a warrant for her arrest was approved. She is currently being held at the New York City Department of Correction.
This remains and active and ongoing investigation.
SMYRNA, Del. – A Smyrna man has been arrested for the murder of his 10-year-old daughter and the continuous child abuse of two additional children.
Delaware State Police arrested 49-year-old Badara Kone on charges of murder by abuse or neglect in the second degree, in addition to two counts of felony continuous child abuse and eight counts of fourth degree child abuse. He was arraigned and is being held at the Delaware Department of Correction on a combined cash bond of $197,000.
On May 28, troopers responded to a residence on Oakwynn Circle in Smyrna where Badara’s daughter, Fatima Kone, was found dead in her bedroom.
An investigation revealed that during the day prior, Badara hit Fatima numerous times with a leather belt causing serious physical injury. While being hit, the child fell to the ground and is believed to have hit her head on a piece of furniture. Following the assault by her father, her siblings in the home assisted Fatima to her bedroom. She was later found deceased, but 911 was not notified for an extended period of time.
During the investigation, detectives determined two male siblings, aged 15 and 11 years, had also been physically abused after they were transported to an area hospital for precautionary wellness evaluations.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues its investigation. Detectives ask that anyone with relevant information about this case or the Kone family to contact Captain J. Laird at (302) 741-2727 or Detective M. Csapo at (302) 741-2729. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police(Opens in a new window.) or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers(Opens in a new window.) at (800) 847-3333.
This article was originally published on Jun. 2 at 6:31 p.m.
