Father, stepmother charged in murder of 10-year-old daughter in Smyrna, Delaware

Delaware State Police have arrested 49-year-old Badara Kone for the murder of his 10-year-old daughter and the abuse of two other children. 

According to Delaware State Police, troopers responded to a home in Smyrna around 2 a.m. on Thursday, May 28.

Based on their preliminary investigation, police say Kone struck his daughter several times with a belt as self-described discipline, allegedly causing her to fall and hit her head on a piece of furniture.

Following the assault, police say the girl's siblings took her to her bedroom, where she was later found dead.

The Delaware Division of Forensic Science completed an autopsy and determined her death was a homicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries.

The victim's siblings, a 15-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy, were also taken to the hospital for precautionary wellness evacuations. Detectives say they found evidence of long-term physical abuse by Kone.

Investigators on Tuesday also announced charges against the victim's stepmother, 37-year-old Adiaratou Coulibaly.

Homicide detectives say after Kone abused the child, Coulibaly carried out further severe and prolonged abuse using various objects and forced exercises.

Authorities took Coulibaly into custody in New York City on Friday, June 5. She is awaiting extradition to Delaware on charges of murder by abuse and second-degree neglect.

The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit continues its investigation.

Anyone with information about the case or the Kone family is asked to contact Captain J. Laird at (302) 741-2727 or Detective M. Csapo at (302) 741-2729.