Mother Convicted of Shooting Infant in Face to Block Father's Custody
Madeline Veronique Daly was convicted of first-degree murder after kidnapping her 11-month-old son Basil Stoner, taking him to New Mexico and shooting him in the face to keep the child's father, Jake Stoner, from obtaining custody.
In December 2025, Madeline Veronique Daly seized her infant son Basil Stoner from Wyoming, breaching a court order that gave emergency custody to his father, Jake Stoner. After traveling across state lines, she checked into an RV park near Silver City, New Mexico, where the Grant County Sheriff’s Office located her following a background-check flag. Officers surrounded the trailer, and a single shot rang out; inside they discovered Basil dead from a 9 mm bullet to the face and Daly attempting self-harm.
During questioning she claimed the murder was "worth it" to ensure Jake could never obtain custody, alleging the child would be in danger. Daly entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder and now confronts the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Why it matters
The case underscores the potential for extreme violence in custody disputes and the need for vigilant child-protection measures.
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