Madeline Daly Says Killing 11-Month-Old Son Was ‘Worth It’ To Keep Him Away From His Father
Madeline Veronique Daly, 36, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of her infant son, Basil Stoner, who was killed inside a recreational vehicle near Silver City, New Mexico, according to a statement from the 6th Judicial District Attorney's Office, as per Parade.
A New Mexico woman has been found guilty of murdering her 11-month-old son after taking him across state lines in violation of a custody order. Madeline Veronique Daly, 36, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of her infant son, Basil Stoner, who was killed inside a recreational vehicle near Silver City, New Mexico, according to a statement from the 6th Judicial District Attorney's Office, as per Parade.
Mother Arrested in December 2025
Daly was arrested on December 23, 2025, and was initially charged with first-degree murder and child abuse, the attorney's office reported in January. The investigation found that Daly had transported Basil from Wyoming to New Mexico in violation of a court order that had granted his father emergency custody.
Madeline Daly Convicted of Murdering 11-Month-Old Son Basil After Cross-State Abduction in New Mexico
Mother shoots her 11-month-old baby in the face, says it was "worth it" because the boy's father would never be able to see him.
Madeline Veronique Daly has been convicted of the horrific killing in New Mexico.
How long until the TikTok females raise $1M for her? pic.twitter.com/9957BW5slG
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 28, 2026
On December 23, deputies from the Grant County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a rural location along a highway in New Mexico after being alerted to kidnapping charges filed against Daly in Wyoming. Officers located her at a bunkhouse and watched her flee to a nearby RV. US Shocker: Woman Kills 4-Year-Old Daughter in West Virginia, Later Has S*x With Husband; Awarded 2 Life Terms.
Child Fatally Shot Inside RV
As deputies surrounded the RV and waited for a search warrant, they heard a gunshot from inside the vehicle. They entered immediately and discovered that Daly had shot the child with a 9mm handgun.
According to an affidavit obtained by Cowboy State Daily, investigators said medical personnel tried to save the child but "they were unable to save his life due to the gunshot wound to the face." Louisiana Mass Shooting: Father Kills 7 of His Children Plus Another Child at House in Shreveport, Say US Police; Gunman Shot Dead After Car Chase.
Daly was reported to law enforcement after she applied for a job and the prospective employer's background check revealed an outstanding warrant for kidnapping, the affidavit stated.
What Daly Told Police
Following her arrest, Daly told police she considered her actions "worth it" if it meant the boy's father and paternal relatives would be denied access to him.
She also said she believed Basil "would have been in danger and molested if she would have stepped out of that trailer," and claimed the child's father "never wanted anything to do with him, financially, physically, emotionally ever," investigators noted in the affidavit.
Guilty Plea and Pending Sentencing
Daly has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, the district attorney's office confirmed this week. Her sentencing date has not yet been set. The outcome of the separate child abuse and kidnapping charges remains unclear at this time.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2026 07:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
