Basil Stoner was born on January 8th, 2025. His father, Jake Stoner, was previously in a relationship with Madeline Daly. When the parties split in July of 2024, Madeline Daly went on the run and tried to keep the location of where she was and where the baby was going to be born a secret. Throughout this time, Madeline Daly would randomly send text messages to Mr. Stoner, telling him how he would never be a part of his child’s life. Eventually, Madeline Daly came to reside in the small town of Ten Sleep, Wyoming, to finish her pregnancy. Jake Stoner was able to communicate with her, and he was able to be present for the birth of his son. After the birth, Madeline Daly refused to discuss the name of the child or even allow for the last name of Stoner to be placed on the birth certificate. Shortly after, she was discharged and refused to allow Mr. Stoner to be in his son’s life. This continued for a period of approximately eight months while Mr. Stoner fought to be part of his son’s life. Ms. Daly refused to allow him to see his son and refused to allow him to be part of anything related to his son. After a trial in the 5th Judicial District Court for Washakie County, Wyoming, the Court ordered that Jake would be able to see his son, was to immediately start visitation with his son, and was going to rapidly work to a schedule where he would have his son basically half of the time. The first visits that Jake had since the child was born went wonderfully. They spent time at the local museum, went to the park, went to breakfast, and Jake was able to finally start to enjoy what he had dreamed of for the better part of his adult life: to be a father. The next time he was to be able to visit with his son, Madeline Daly refused the Court order and would not allow him to see his child. The following week, Jake tried again to schedule to see his child. Madeline Daly again refused. At this time, Jake requested the Court to once again intervene. When Madeline Daly got word of his request to the Court, she responded with a message to Jake calling him a deadbeat dad, telling him that she was already having his son start calling someone else daddy, and telling him, “awww you snitched.” A hearing was set for the Court to intervene and for Madeline Daly to demonstrate why she should not be held in contempt of Court. Madeline Daly failed to appear for court, and a couple of weeks after, the Court entered an Order granting immediate custody of the child to Mr. Stoner and requiring Madeline Daly to turn the child over to Mr. Stoner. In the meantime, Madeline Daly had left her residence in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, and was staying with an individual in Worland, Wyoming, who was helping to hide her. This was verified through the use of a private investigator. Once the Court entered the Order granting immediate custody to Mr. Stoner, an investigation was started with the local law enforcement through the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office. Madeline Daly then fled the state. Articles were posted in the Cowboy State Daily as Mr. Stoner was requesting any information and the public’s help. These articles can be found at:

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/11/27/father-of-missing-ten-sleep-baby-asks-for-publics-help-in-finding-him/

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/12/03/felony-warrant-issued-for-wyoming-mom-who-took-off-with-10-month-old-baby/

Ultimately, a felony warrant was issued for Madeline Daly. However, because Law Enforcement had no knowledge of immediate, present danger to the child, an Amber Alert was not issued. This meant that while there was a Be on the Look Out “BOLO,” there was not the more serious Amber Alert, which ultimately may have saved Basil’s life. There were concerns that Madeline was trying to leave the country as she is a dual citizen with France. Because she did not have Jake Stoner’s name placed on the birth certificate, there was concern that she would be able to get the child out of the country. Due to Madeline Daly having ties in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Utah, leads were being run down, and the Private Investigator hired by Jake Stoner was working non-stop to try and find the child and ensure a safe return.

Madeline Daly had a history of substance abuse and mental health issues. She previously had a standoff in Nebraska with Law Enforcement, which involved her threatening suicide. At the time of the trial, it seemed she had addressed many of the issues and overall was in a much better place mentally than she had been in her earlier life. However, Jake had an impending feeling of doom, and he relayed the same to Law Enforcement in New Mexico the following day.

On December 23rd, 2025, Mr. Stoner received a call from Law Enforcement asking if he was ready to travel. Madeline Daly had been located in New Mexico. Mr. Stoner sat by the phone waiting for the news he had been hoping to hear for months: that his son was safe and he would be able to celebrate Christmas with him. Unfortunately, the next call that Mr. Stoner received came from his attorney, Christopher J. King of Worland, Wyoming, who had been monitoring the situation.

Instead of being able to spend Christmas with his son, Jake heard the words that will haunt him forever. Madeline Daly had barricaded herself at an RV Park in New Mexico. Instead of turning her son over to law enforcement and being peacefully arrested, she shot Basil and killed him. Madeline Daly was then arrested prior to her being able to harm herself or any other individuals and is currently incarcerated in New Mexico.

Jake made the trip from Nebraska, where he resides and works alongside his family on a cattle ranch that he had hoped his son would one day join him, to New Mexico. When he arrived, he was informed that he would not be able to see his son until December 26th due to the holidays. Jake’s heart is broken. All he ever wanted to do was be a father.

Jake believes that if the laws are changed to allow for an Amber Alert to be issued with less stringent standards, his son would be alive and safe. This GoFundMe has two purposes. First, to help Jake with the funeral expenses of his son and the expenses to bring him home to Nebraska. Second, all additional funds will be used in memory of Basil Stoner to help with addressing the issues with the requirements of an Amber Alert to hopefully prevent another situation like this from happening.