Madeline Veronique Daly, a 36-year-old mother, has pleaded guilty to murder as she admits to kidnapping and fatally shooting her 11-month-old son, Basil Emeric Daly, in the face in order to block the child’s father, her ex-boyfriend Jake Stoner (of Nebraska), from getting custody.
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Last Wednesday (August 26), the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in New Mexico announced the guilty plea. District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler revealed that on August 24, 2026, Daly pled guilty to First-Degree Murder in the fatal shooting of her son. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Vega represented the State during the trial, which was presided over by Judge Tom F. Stewart.
After reviewing and accepting the terms of the plea agreement, Judge Stewart granted a separate sentencing hearing. He said he wanted additional time to review the case.
As part of the plea deal, Daly is facing a life sentence, the maximum penalty for First Degree Murder in the State of New Mexico. Daly will serve her time in the New Mexico Department of Corrections.
Madeline Daly And Jake Stoner’s Rocky Relationship Amid Pregnancy With Son Basil Daly
According to a GoFundMe posted on behalf of the father, the child was born on January 8, 2025. But before his birth, in July 2024, a then-pregnant Daly split from Stoner. She “went on the run and tried to keep the location of where she was and where the baby was going to be born a secret.” Daly reportedly told Stoner, “he would never be a part of his child’s life.”
She eventually finished out her pregnancy in a small town called Ten Sleep in Wyoming. Daly allowed Stoner to be present for the child’s birth and then refused to allow him to know the child’s name, be listed on the birth certificate, and allow him to be in the child’s life. After a legal fight, the 5th Judicial District Court for Washakie County, Wyoming ordered Stoner visitation rights. The first few visits “went wonderfully.” However, Daly allegedly again refused for him to be father. He again asked the court to intervene.
Upon learning of his legal actions, Daly “called him deadbeat dad.” Daly failed to appear for the next hearing and the court granted Stoner emergency custody. Daly was ordered to hand over the child. However, she fled Wyoming and went on the run again, hiding the child. A felony warrant was issued for her arrest. However, Stoner’s reps claim law enforcement failed to issue an Amber Alert. They said, “This meant that while there was a Be on the Look Out ‘BOLO,’ there was not the more serious Amber Alert, which ultimately may have saved Basil’s life.”
Jake Stoner Alleges Madeline Daly ‘Had History Of Substance Abuse And Mental Health Issues’ Before Shooting 11-Month-Old Son Dead
Since Daly “had ties in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Utah,” Stoner hired a private investigator for help in finding her and Basil. Stoner’s reps alleged “Daly had a history of substance abuse and mental health issues,” and had once “threatened suicide” in a standoff with law enforcement in Nebraska.
However, Stoner’s reps said, “At the time of the trial, it seemed she had addressed many of the issues and overall was in a much better place mentally than she had been in her earlier life.” Despite this, Stoner feared the safety of his child and told police. By December 23, 2025, police called Stoner and said they located Daly in New Mexico.
The next call was from his attorney, Christopher J. King of Worland, Wyoming. He said Daly barricaded herself at an RV Park near Silver City, New Mexico. Deputies surrounded the motorized RV, awaiting Daly to hand over Basil. However, they heard a gunshot and rushed in to find she had shot and killed the child after pointing a 9mm handgun in his face. After a brief struggle, police arrested her. Deputies attempted to save the child by rushing him to an awaiting ambulance, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Madeline Daly Claims ‘It Was Worth It’ After Kidnapping And Killing 11-Month-Old Son
According to Cowboy State Daily, Daly told police she kidnapped her own son because “she was not going to allow her son to go back and forth from Nebraska to Wyoming twice a month.” After her arrest, she said she believed she was keeping her son “safe” and that killing him was “worth it” if it meant Stoner and his family would never have the chance to see him.
Daly said when she saw law enforcement surrounding the home, she thought to herself, “Jake can’t get Basil.” She also alleged that Basil “would have been in danger and molested” if she exited the trailer and handed him over. She added that Basil’s father “never wanted anything to do with” him “financially, physically, emotionally ever.”
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