Man facing charges in his wife’s death in Madison Twp.
A 41-year-old man has been charged with murder after firefighters responding to a fire found his wife strangled and set afire at their Madison Township home near Columbus' Southeast Side.
Mamadou Diallo, whose last known address is the home on the 3500 block of Noe Bixby Road where the fire took place, has been arrested and charged by Franklin County Sheriff's detectives with murder, aggravated arson and tampering with evidence, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.
Detectives say he is charged in connection with the death of his wife, 32year old Fatoumata Diallo.
Madison Township and Columbus fire departments responded to a fire call about 1 p.m. at the split-level home, Madison Township Fire Chief Derek Robinson said Thursday.
Robinson said only that firefighters entering the smoke-filled home found an unresponsive adult woman, who was immediately pronounced dead.
Court records show firefighters found Ms. Diallo's body in the basement of the home. Investigators were able to determine that she had a coaxial cable wrapped around her neck, indicating she had apparently been strangled before her body was set afire using an accelerant.
Diallo is currently being held in the Franklin County jail. He is expected to have an initial appearance Saturday morning in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Court records indicate that prosecutors will request a high bond because Diallo works as a cross-country truck driver and has family outside the country, making him a flight risk.
Several children inside escaped unharmed from the smoke-filled home, and were interviewed outside by investigators.
Noe Bixby Road remained closed for several hours after the fire was extinguished while fire crews cleaned-up and an investigation was conducted. bbruner@dispatch.com @Bethany_bruner kgordon@dispatch.com @kgdispatch