A tragic custody dispute culminated in court this week as 36-year-old Madeline Veronique Daly pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of her 11-month-old son, Basil. The incident occurred in December 2025 inside an RV near Silver City, New Mexico, as law enforcement officers were surrounding the vehicle.
The tragic event followed a multi-state search after Daly fled Wyoming with the infant, violating a court order that had granted emergency custody to the child’s father, Jake Stoner.
The Standoff: Grant County Sheriff’s deputies located Daly after a prospective employer ran a background check that flagged an active kidnapping warrant out of Wyoming. As officers surrounded the RV, Daly fired a single shot from a 9mm handgun, fatally striking the 11-month-old child in the face.
Chilling Statements: Following her arrest, court affidavits reveal Daly told investigators she believed the killing was “worth it” if it meant the boy’s father and paternal relatives would never have access to him.
Guilty Plea: Daly entered her guilty plea to first-degree murder in New Mexico’s Sixth Judicial District Court, where she now faces up to life in prison ahead of sentencing.
The horrific crime has sparked immense outrage and grief. Following her sentencing in New Mexico, authorities note Daly is expected to face pending charges in Wyoming stemming from the initial parental abduction.
