Mum shot child in face and stated it was ‘price it’ in nightmare custody conflict
A mum has pleaded guilty to murdering her 11-month-old son after allegedly shooting him in the face during a police standoff, later telling officers it was “worth it” to stop his father getting custody.
Madeline Daly(Image: 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office)
A mum who shot her own baby in the face during a bitter custody battle later told police it was “worth it” so the child’s father could never have him, a court has heard.
Madeline Veronique Daly, 36, has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder over the death of her 11-month-old son, Basil Stoner, during a police standoff in Silver City, New Mexico, USA, on December 23, 2025. The case began in Wyoming, where Basil’s dad Jake Stoner was granted custody after Daly missed a court hearing and then cut off contact.
Jake reported Basil missing on November 19, 2025, sparking a multi-state hunt. A judge granted emergency temporary custody to the father and Daly was wanted on a felony kidnapping warrant.
Basil Stoner (Image: GoFundMe)
Investigators say Daly fled Wyoming and ended up in Grant County, New Mexico, living with the baby. Her location was uncovered after she applied for a job and a background check flagged the outstanding warrant – with the employer alerting authorities.
When deputies and a New Mexico State Police SWAT team moved in at an RV park near Silver City, Daly allegedly carried Basil into an RV and barricaded herself inside, refusing to come out, True Crime News reported. As officers tried to negotiate her surrender, prosecutors say Daly raised a 9mm handgun, pointed it at the infant’s face and pulled the trigger.
Police heard the shot, forced their way in and attempted life-saving measures, but Basil died at the scene before he could be airlifted. After her arrest, Daly’s alleged comments stunned investigators.
“A special Kind of Evil”
WWSB reports she said shooting her child was “worth it” and claimed she did it to keep him safe from his father and relatives. She also said her first thought when she saw law enforcement approaching the RV was: “Jake can’t get Basil.”
Court documents also allege Daly said she would “do it again” to ensure Jake’s family never “touched him”, and admitted she wasn’t fast enough to take her own life afterwards. Daly entered her guilty plea on August 24 of this year, in a deal that dropped a child abuse charge.
Under New Mexico law she faces up to 30 years to life in prison, with sentencing still to be set by Judge Tom F. Stewart. She is also reportedly expected to face outstanding custody interference and kidnapping charges in Wyoming, and could face federal charges for crossing state lines.
Basil Stoner and Madeline Daly(Image: Washakie County Sheriff’s Office)
An obituary for Basil said: “His father Jake was as proud as can be to finally have the son he always wanted… Basil was happiest outdoors and loved watching animals and he really liked blueberries.”
Jake Stoner, the dad, reportedly said he had hoped the case would be prosecuted at the federal level, which could have opened the door to a more severe sentence. “There’s a special kind of evil at work here,” he told Cowboy State Daily.
“This is the most God-awful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
