Stepmother becomes 2nd person charged in alleged child abuse death of 10-year-old Delaware girl

SMYRNA, Del. (WPVI) -- A second person has been charged in the child abuse death of a 10-year-old girl in Smyrna, Delaware.

The video featured is from a previous report.

The child's stepmother, 37-year-old Adiaratou Coulibaly, has been charged with murder by abuse or neglect, police announced on Tuesday. She was taken into custody on Friday in New York City.

During the investigation, detectives say they found that Coulibaly was involved in circumstances surrounding Fatima's death, including subjecting the young girl to severe and prolonged abuse using various objects and forced exercises.

The girl's father, 49-year-old Badara Kone, has also been charged with murder, as well as for allegedly abusing his two other children.

Police responded to a home on Oakwynn Circle around 2 a.m. on May 28.

Investigators say 10-year-old Fatima Kone died after allegedly being struck number of times with a belt before falling and hitting her head on a piece of furniture.

Following the assault, Fatima's siblings helped her to her bedroom, where she was later found dead.

Officials say 9-1-1 was not called for several hours.

An autopsy classified the death as a homicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries.

Badara was taken into custody that night and has been charged with second-degree murder by abuse or neglect, and fourth-degree child abuse. He remains in custody of the Delaware Department of Correction on a $180,000 cash bond.

Police say the two other siblings, an 11-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, also showed signs of abuse.

Coulibaly is currently being held by the New York City Department of Correction as she awaits being extradited to Delaware.

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 or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit/Delaware Victim Center. is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.