Mom shot baby son during custody battle, told police she thought it was “worth it”

Madeline Veronique Daly has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of her 11-month-old son, Basil Stoner. This marks a significant development in a case that began with a custody dispute and ended in a tragedy in New Mexico.

The legal proceedings were overseen by Judge Tom F. Stewart, who accepted the plea agreement and scheduled a separate sentencing hearing for a later date. Daly now faces a life sentence in the New Mexico Department of Corrections, which is the maximum penalty for the crime in the state.

As reported by True Crime News, the events leading up to this plea began in Wyoming. Jake Stoner, the father of the infant, had reportedly been granted emergency custody of Basil by the courts. When Daly failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing, Jake Stoner reported the child missing in November 2025. 

She shot him in the face

Investigations revealed that Daly had reportedly fled Wyoming and traveled to Grant County, New Mexico, where she eventually attempted to find work. Her efforts to secure employment ultimately led to her discovery, as a background check conducted by a potential employer flagged an outstanding arrest warrant for kidnapping issued in Wyoming.

Authorities tracked Daly to a rural property located along Highway 15 in Silver City, New Mexico. In December 2025, Grant County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the location, where they reportedly found Daly and her son inside a motorized RV. 

The scene involved multiple agencies, including the Hurley Police Department, the Forest Service, Native Air, Emergency Medical Services, the FBI, and investigators from the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s office. As deputies surrounded the vehicle and worked to secure a search warrant, the situation escalated rapidly.

Daly reportedly retreated into another RV with the infant and refused to exit. During the ensuing negotiations, law enforcement officials heard a single gunshot coming from inside the vehicle. Deputies immediately entered the RV and discovered that Daly had used a 9mm handgun to shoot her son in the face. Despite the immediate efforts of deputies and emergency responders to provide lifesaving medical care, the infant was pronounced dead.

In the aftermath of her arrest, Daly made statements to the police regarding her motivations. She reportedly told officers that she believed shooting her child was “worth it” and claimed she took the action to prevent the child from being with his father and relatives.

She stated that her primary thought when she saw law enforcement approaching the RV was, “Jake can’t get Basil.” Beyond the murder charge, Daly was also booked on the initial kidnapping charge originating from Wyoming and a count of child abuse resulting in death.

Basil Stoner was born on January 8, 2025, in Worland, Wyoming. His obituary describes him as a happy, alert child who loved being outdoors, watching animals, and eating blueberries. His father, Jake, had been eager to have a son, and the loss of the child has left a void for his surviving family members, including his grandparents.