UPDATE: Fatoumata Coulibaly is safe in New Jersey. She walked into a Newark police station Wednesday afternoon, Henrico Police spokeswoman Lt. Linda Toney said.
“[New Jersey Police] advised Ms. Coulibaly came to their police station, wanting to verify she was safe, knowing that she had been reported missing,” Toney said. Police believe Coulibaly voluntarily left her home.
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Henrico Police headquarters is just four city blocks across Parham Road from a missing woman’s town home.
That’s why police were able to arrive at Fatoumata Coulibaly’s Loveridge Court home in seconds after her family called. Police found her home in disarray Monday night.
Neighbors said police were pounding on an apartment door.
"We hear Henrico County Police and ‘bang!’ officers went in with shields," said resident Brandy Holderman.
Police also searched the apartment next door to where the 19-year-old Coulibaly lives.
Police sources said Fatoumata, who goes by the nickname Diamond, had called her mom around seven Monday night, saying someone was breaking in to the house. But Henrico Police would only confirm that her family had called 911 right after that.
"We received information from her family to check her residence on Loveridge Court,” said Lt. Linda Toney. “We found her residence unsecure."
"You could see stuff all ransacked inside,” said Holderman. “I'm not sure what was going on but police were going in and out."
Police sources told me that Henrico investigators got a lead in Chesterfield County early Tuesday morning in the Ironbridge Road and Chippenham Parkway area. Sources said that pings from the missing woman’s cell phone led investigators to that location, but when they got there either the cell phone had died or it was turned off.
Coulibaly is from Mali and has an internet radio show called "Diamond Radio Diva."
Her family told police that her disappearance is out of character.
"They, and we, are concerned for her safety, because she never done this before," said Toney.
Neighbors are praying for Coulibaly's safe return. "It's shocking,” said Holderman. “It's normally quiet around here."
If you you've seen Coulibaly at any point after 7 p.m. Monday, please call police immediately.
