Mother Sentenced to Life After Infant Son Was Killed During Custody Dispute

SILVER CITY, New Mexico — A New Mexico mother has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder after prosecutors said she killed her 11-month-old son during a bitter custody dispute, telling investigators she believed it was the only way to prevent the child’s father and his family from having custody or contact with him.

Madeline Veronique Daly, 36, was arrested after authorities located her at an RV park near Silver City in December 2025. She had allegedly taken her son, Basil Stoner, from Wyoming in violation of a court order that had granted emergency custody to his father.

A Custody Dispute Escalated

According to authorities, Daly had taken Basil across state lines after a court ruling involving custody of the child.

The father, Jake Stoner, had been granted emergency custody, and investigators said Daly was not permitted to remove the infant from the state.

Authorities eventually learned that Daly was in the Silver City area and tracked her to an RV park.

Police surrounded the RV while working to obtain a warrant to enter.

Police Heard a Gunshot

As officers were outside the RV, they heard a gunshot from inside and moved into the vehicle.

Investigators said they found Daly and her son inside.

Basil was rushed for emergency medical attention but could not be saved.

Daly was also taken into custody after authorities intervened before she could cause further harm to herself.

The circumstances surrounding the incident shocked investigators because the child had been at the center of a custody dispute between his parents.

What Daly Told Investigators

After her arrest, Daly reportedly gave investigators an explanation for why she had taken her son.

According to the arrest affidavit cited by the New York Post, she said she did not want Basil repeatedly traveling between states as part of the custody arrangement.

She also made claims about concerns for her son’s safety, although authorities have not established those allegations as factual.

Investigators said Daly ultimately acknowledged that she had chosen to prevent Basil’s father and his relatives from having a relationship with the child.

Her comments became an important part of the case against her.

She Has Now Pleaded Guilty

Daly initially faced charges including first-degree murder and child abuse.

This week, however, she pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, bringing the criminal case closer to its conclusion.

Prosecutors said she now faces the maximum sentence of life in prison.

The guilty plea means the case will not proceed to a full trial in which jurors would have heard all of the evidence and determined her guilt.

Instead, the focus now turns to sentencing.

A Father Left to Grieve

Basil’s father has been left to cope with the loss of his young son after previously fighting through the courts for custody.

The child was only 11 months old.

A fundraising campaign established for Basil identified him publicly and described the devastating impact his loss had on his family.

The case has also drawn attention to the dangers that can arise when intense family and custody disputes escalate beyond the courtroom.

Questions About the Custody Battle

The circumstances have raised difficult questions about how custody disputes are handled when one parent refuses to accept a court decision.

In this case, authorities say Daly violated a custody order by taking Basil across state lines.

The situation ultimately became a criminal investigation involving multiple jurisdictions before police located the mother and child in New Mexico.

While Daly claimed she was acting to protect her son, investigators said there was no evidence supporting the allegations she made about the child’s father and relatives.

A Tragic End to a Custody Fight

What began as a dispute over where a young child would live ultimately ended with Basil’s life being cut short and his mother facing a life sentence.

Daly’s guilty plea now leaves the court to determine the final sentence.

For Basil’s father and relatives, however, the legal proceedings cannot undo what happened.

The case stands as a devastating reminder of how quickly a custody dispute can become something far beyond a family disagreement — and how profoundly children can be affected when adults become locked in an escalating conflict.