Madeline Veronique Daly, 36, of New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to the murder of her 11-month-old son, Basil Daly, in December 2025. The tragic incident occurred weeks after Daly had taken Basil from his father’s home in Wyoming, where the father had been granted emergency custody. Daly moved Basil to a rural area in Grant City, New Mexico, and attempted to hide in a trailer park after the father reported the child missing. Authorities found Daly in a bunkhouse and witnessed her running toward an RV, from which a single gunshot was heard. Basil was later discovered inside the RV with a gunshot wound to the face. Daly then attempted to take her own life with the gun but was stopped by law enforcement. According to police, she told officers that killing Basil was “worth it” to prevent her ex-partner or his family from gaining custody of the child. She reportedly told deputies she would do it again to keep the family from “touching” Basil. Detective Jason Jordan of the Grant County Sheriff's Office reported that Daly claimed she knew she had broken the law by kidnapping the boy but did so to keep him “safe” from his father. She alleged that the father would have put Basil in danger and even molested him if she had left the trailer. Daly also said the father had never wanted anything to do with Basil “financially, physically, emotionally ever.” She lost custody of Basil in November 2025 to his father, who has not been named publicly. The father reported the child missing on November 19, stating he had not seen Basil for several weeks as Daly resisted handing him over. Daly was later discovered by authorities after applying for a job in New Mexico. A prospective employer conducted a background check and found a warrant for her arrest related to the kidnapping. Police located her at a bunkhouse and observed her running toward an RV, from which a gunshot was fired. Basil was later found inside with a gunshot wound to the face. After being subdued by officers, Daly reportedly told them she “saw the sheriffs and knew my time was up.” She was arrested at the scene and is now facing a life sentence following a plea deal. A sentencing date has not yet been set.