Delaware Father Charged With Murder of 10-Year-Old Daughter Following What He Called Discipline
State of DE - A Smyrna man is behind bars after Delaware State Police charged him with murdering his 10-year-old daughter following what he called discipline.
Badara Kone, 49, was arrested after investigators say he beat his daughter, Fatima Kone, with a leather belt on May 27, 2026. The beating caused serious injuries, and Fatima later died in her bedroom.
Troopers responded to a home on Oakwynn Circle in Smyrna at around 2:00 a.m. on May 28 after Fatima was found deceased. The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit was called in to assist with the investigation.
According to investigators, Badara struck Fatima multiple times with a leather belt, describing it as discipline. During the assault, she fell and is believed to have hit her head on a piece of furniture. Her siblings helped her to her bedroom afterward.
Fatima was later found dead. Authorities say 9-1-1 was not called for an extended period of time after she was discovered.
Two male siblings, a 15-year-old and an 11-year-old were taken to a hospital for wellness evaluations. Detectives say the evidence they found there showed the boys had also been continuously physically abused.
On May 28, Badara was charged with two felony counts of continuous child abuse and eight counts of fourth-degree child abuse related to the male children. He was held on a $17,000 cash bond.
The Delaware Division of Forensic Science performed an autopsy on Fatima. The death was ruled a homicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries.
On June 1, 2026, the Delaware Department of Justice authorized a murder charge. Badara was arraigned and remained in custody on a $180,000 cash bond. He faces one felony count of murder by abuse or neglect in the second degree.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Captain J. Laird at (302) 741-2727 or Detective M. Csapo at (302) 741-2729. Tips can also be submitted through a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
