In a tragic case that has shocked both Wyoming and New Mexico, a woman accused of murdering her own child has been denied bail. The suspect, Madaline Daly, is alleged to have taken the life of her 11-month-old son, Basil Daly, in a harrowing incident that unfolded in an RV in Grant County, New Mexico.
This past Monday, a judge in Grant County ruled that Daly, age 35, would remain incarcerated without the possibility of bail. She faces serious charges, including first-degree murder and kidnapping, stemming from the events of December 23. According to court documents, Daly expressed a chilling motive, reportedly stating she preferred her son dead rather than allowing her ex-partner any involvement in the child’s life.
The incident came to the attention of law enforcement when deputies responded to a call along Highway 15 near Silver Lake. The alert was raised by Daly’s employers, who discovered during a routine background check that there was an outstanding warrant for her in Washakie County, Wyoming.
Upon their arrival, deputies found Daly had retreated into an RV with her son. She allegedly barricaded herself inside and resisted all attempts by law enforcement to persuade her to surrender peacefully. Tragically, the situation escalated when Daly reportedly shot her son in the face, as detailed in an affidavit, leading to his death.
This heartbreaking case continues to develop as the legal proceedings against Madaline Daly move forward. The community remains in shock as they grapple with the devastating loss of a young life.
Responding deputies tried to negotiate with her. However, Daly refused to cooperate and shot the baby in his face, killing him, an affidavit stated.
Authorities took Daly into custody; during an interview with investigators, she claimed she didn’t have enough time to take her own life before the deputies subdued her.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser, Daly had been in a relationship with Basil’s father, Jake Stoner, until July 2024. She then fled Wyoming while pregnant, with plans to give birth in a secret location.
Law&Crime reports that months before Basil’s birth, Daly allegedly sent text messages to Stoner, stating that “he would never be a part of his child’s life.”
The pair briefly reconciled, which allowed Stoner to be present during the birth. Shortly after, the relationship ended and the defendant “refused to discuss the name of the child or even allow for the last name of Stoner to be placed on the birth certificate.”
In November, Daly skipped a court hearing in Washakie County, Wyoming, and fled with the child after a judge granted Stoner emergency temporary custody.
“A mother absconded with her child from Wyoming, traveled around — we’re not sure where — but ended up here being confronted by law enforcement and chose to murder her child, her own child, with a 9 mm gun to the face,” Mark Abramson with the Grant County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
“There are just too many red flags in this case, and there are no circumstances that would justify release of this defendant into our community.”
Abrams then referenced an interview between Daly and Detective Lt. Jason Jordan of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico, following her arrest.
“Even if the rest of life is worthless she would do it again just so to make sure that the (family) didn’t touch him,” Jordan wrote in an affidavit.
Daly also made alleged unsubstantiated claims against Stoner, asserting that he “never wanted anything to do with Basil, financially, physically, emotionally ever.”
Before ordering Daly to remain behind bars, the judge stated there were concerns for not only Daly safety, but the safety of others.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Basil Daly/GoFundMe]
