Mother murders eleven-month-old infant in custody dispute

Madeline Veronique Daley, a 36-year-old woman, has been arrested for the murder of her 11-month-old son, Basil Stoner, in New Mexico. The incident occurred after Daley abducted the child from Wyoming, violating a court order that had granted temporary custody to the boy's father, Jake Stoner. The father last saw his son on September 28, 2025, after which the mother fled the state with the infant to prevent the scheduled custody exchanges.

Authorities discovered Daley on December 23, 2025, in a trailer park near Silver City, New Mexico, after she applied for a job, which triggered a background check. During the investigation, Daley confessed to killing the child, stating she did not want the father to have custody and later claiming that her actions were "worth it." The case is currently moving through the legal system as authorities process the evidence of this domestic violence tragedy.

This horrific act stemmed from a prolonged custody battle and the mother's refusal to comply with court-mandated visitation arrangements between Nebraska and Wyoming. Legal proceedings remain ongoing as the justice system addresses the circumstances surrounding the infant's death.