FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio — Police arrested a man accused of strangling his wife and setting her on fire in their southeast Franklin County home.
Madison Township firefighters responded to the fire at a home in the 3500 block of Noe Bixby Road shortly before 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Crews were able to contain the fire shortly after.
First responders found the woman, later identified as 32-year-old Fatoumata Diallo, in the basement of the home.
During the investigation, authorities learned that Fatoumata was set on fire after she had been strangled.
According to court documents, Fatoumata was found with a coaxial cable wrapped around her neck.
Court documents also state that her husband, 41-year-old Mamadou Aliou Diallo, was seen on a surveillance camera coming and going to the home at the time of the fire.
The video also shows Mamadou taking two young children, ages 2 and 3, out of the home before the fire started.
Detective Bryan Meister with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office told 10TV Mamadou was the one who made the call to 911.
The detective said Mamadou never mentioned that Fatoumata was inside the home, but did tell operators that the kids were out.
According to Meister, Mamadou refused to speak but had told investigators that he had recently returned from visiting Ghana.
"It was very tragic," the detective said. "There are stepkids involved, so they lost their stepmother and father. The two young children lost their mother, and now their father is behind bars."
Mamadou was arrested and charged with aggravated arson, murder and tampering with evidence.
He is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail.
