Father charged with murder after 10-year-old daughter dies in Delaware home

Badara Kone has been charged in connection with the death of his 10-year-old daughter after authorities ruled the child’s death a homicide and alleged a pattern of ongoing abuse within the household.

According to the Delaware State Police, Kone, 49, was arrested after officers responded to a home in Smyrna, Delaware, around 2 a.m. on May 28, where his daughter, Fatima Kone, was found unresponsive in her bedroom.

Investigators allege that on May 27, Kone struck Fatima multiple times with a leather belt, describing the act as “discipline,” according to authorities. 

Police said the child then fell and hit her head on a piece of furniture, sustaining serious injuries.

Authorities further allege that Fatima’s siblings, aged 11 and 15, assisted in moving her to her bedroom after the incident, and that emergency services were not contacted for an extended period of time.

Both boys were later taken to a hospital for wellness evaluations, where investigators said they found evidence suggesting they had also been subjected to “continuous” physical abuse.

Kone was initially charged with multiple counts of child abuse before the case escalated after the Delaware Division of Forensic Science ruled Fatima’s death a homicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries. He was subsequently charged with murder by abuse or neglect.

He remains in custody at the Delaware Department of Correction on a $180,000 cash bond.

Neighbors told local media they were shocked by the allegations, describing the family as new to the area and appearing unremarkable in the weeks leading up to the tragedy. 

One resident said they were “in disbelief,” while another noted the family had recently introduced themselves to the community.

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.