The Washakie County Sheriff’s Office and the father of a missing 10-month-old Ten Sleep boy are asking for the public’s help in locating him.
It’s believed that Basil Daly's mother and noncustodial parent, Madeline Daly, has taken him and refuses to return the baby in defiance of court orders, said Washakie County Sheriff Austin Brookwell.
Daly’s last known address was at an RV park in Ten Sleep, and her grey 2017 Dodge Ram pickup with Wyoming plates was last seen in the county on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Basil’s father, Jake Stoner, who lives in Kilgore, Nebraska, roughly 500 miles from where Daly was last seen, said it’s been an ordeal since he learned that his son was missing.
“It’s just very worrisome and heart-wrenching to know that you don’t know if he’s safe, or even have a vague idea of where he’s at,” Stoner told Cowboy State Daily.
As of Wednesday, there were no updates, said Brookwell, whose office continues to follow up “on any leads they get.”
10-month-old Basil Daly was last seen in Washakie County on Nov. 16. He’s thought to be with his noncustodial mother Madeline Daly, who has absconded with him against court orders. Desperate to find the child, his father is asking for the public's help. (Courtesy Photo) 
10-month-old Basil Daly was last seen in Washakie County on Nov. 16. He’s thought to be with his noncustodial mother Madeline Daly, who has absconded with him against court orders. Desperate to find the child, his father is asking for the public's help. Above is her truck. (Courtesy Photo) 
10-month-old Basil Daly was last seen in Washakie County on Nov. 16. He’s thought to be with his noncustodial mother Madeline Daly, pictured, who has absconded with him against court orders. Desperate to find the child, his father is asking for the public's help.
BOLO
Law enforcement issued a national Be On the Lookout (BOLO) for Daly on Oct. 20, Brookwell said, adding that his office has forwarded a probable cause affidavit to Washakie County Attorney Anthony Barton to get a felony warrant for Daly for interference.
Barton said the warrant was filed against Daly on Tuesday, and it's his understanding that it has been signed.
Meanwhile, the Thanksgiving holiday nears with no answers for Stoner about where his son might be. He last saw Basil on a scheduled visit in Wyoming on Sept. 28.
The couple, who were never married, have been embroiled in ongoing custody battles in recent months with Stoner attempting to force Daly to comply with his legal visitation rights with his son, according to Stoner’s lawyer, Christopher King.
Prior to her leaving town, the pair were supposed to meet for a court hearing on Oct. 21, but when Daly failed to show, Washakie County District Judge Bobbi Overfield granted Stoner temporary emergency custody.
King lamented the fact that this case did not meet the requirements for an Amber Alert, which would greatly help in the search to find him, he said.
“Very rarely do they issue them for a parent,” King said. "Which, I think, is definitely something that would help in this situation."
Amber Alerts are only issued in cases where children have been abducted and that law enforcement believes are in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, which Brookwell said is not applicable at this time.
“We do not have information indicating that Basil is in immediate danger; however, it is important that he is safely returned to his custodial parent,” he said in a release.
Meanwhile, Stoner remains worried about the safety of his child as authorities attempt to locate Daly.
“I’ve always wanted to be a father and was really enjoying getting to know my son,” he said.
He called Daly a “good person” and mother and implored her to bring their son home and comply with court orders.
Stoner described Daly as an avid outdoors enthusiast and athlete who might have gone off grid and be camping in state or national parks or on Bureau of Land Management land.
“I believe she’s more than likely going to be off grid,” Stoner said.
Mother’s Ties
Daly, who is a dual French and United States citizen, is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, but has ties to other places she’s lived, including Hill City, South Dakota, Thermopolis, and Moab, Utah, Stoner said.
She also has family in the Denver area and has worked and lived on various ranches and other places from the Midwest to West Coast.
“We don't know if she's working or if somebody is supplying her with groceries and stuff,” he said. “But if so, we hope those people will come forward and do the right thing.”
She’s also very resourceful, he noted, and can easily sleep in her pickup off grid and enjoys cleaning houses for cash on the side, Stoner added.
Along with Basil, Daly is also traveling with two adult dogs — a black female pit bull and cattle dog — as well as a black-and-white puppy she recently acquired for their son.
Daly is driving a 2017 gray Dodge Ram pickup with Wyoming license plate 20-T-2234.
She’s described as being thin and fit with long brown hair and brown eyes with a septum nose ring.
Anyone with information or those who have seen her are asked to contact the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office at 307-347-2242 or Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations at 307-777-7181. Tips can also be submitted anonymously on DCI’s website.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
