Silver City, New Mexico — A Wyoming mother has pleaded guilty to first-degree m4rder in the d3ath of her 11-month-old son, Basil Stoner, following a custody dispute that ultimately brought mother and child to rural New Mexico.
Madeline Veronique Daly, 36, entered her guilty plea on August 24, 2026, before the Sixth Judicial District Court in Silver City. The case stems from the December 23, 2025, d3ath of Basil inside an RV near Silver City.
Authorities said Daly had taken Basil from Wyoming to New Mexico despite a court order granting emergency custody to the child’s father, Jake Stoner, who lives in Nebraska. A kidnapping warrant was subsequently issued for Daly in Wyoming.
Investigators eventually located Daly after a background check connected to a job application revealed the outstanding warrant. Grant County sheriff’s deputies responded to a rural property along Highway 15 and saw Daly run toward a motorized RV while carrying Basil.
Deputies surrounded the RV while authorities worked to obtain a search warrant. At least one g4nshot was then heard from inside.
Officers rushed into the vehicle and discovered that Basil had been fatally sh0t with a 9mm handgun. Emergency personnel attempted to save the 11-month-old, but he did not survive. Daly was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
Court records cited in recent reporting reveal disturbing statements Daly allegedly made to investigators after her arrest. When asked what went through her mind as she saw law enforcement approaching, she reportedly answered, “Jake can’t get Basil.”
Investigators also reported that Daly considered what she had done “worth it” if it prevented Basil’s father and paternal relatives from having access to the child. Daly made allegations that she believed Basil would be unsafe with his father; those accusations have not been substantiated in the available reporting.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Vega, while District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler publicly announced Daly’s guilty plea.
Presiding Judge Tom F. Stewart accepted the plea agreement but ordered a separate sentencing hearing, saying he wanted additional time to review the case before imposing the sentence.
Under the agreement, Daly faces the maximum punishment for first-degree m4rder under New Mexico law: a life sentence, with reporting on the agreement indicating parole eligibility after 30 years. A child-abuse charge was dropped as part of the deal. Wyoming authorities may separately pursue the outstanding kidnapping case.
As of August 30, 2026, Daly has pleaded guilty but has not yet been formally sentenced. The sentencing hearing will take place at a later date.
The case has left Jake Stoner and Basil’s relatives dealing with the devastating loss of an 11-month-old child while the legal proceedings against Daly continue.
