Discovery at the Rio Hotel & Casino
Law enforcement and hotel staff responded after friends reported a mother and daughter missing while in Las Vegas for a national cheer competition. Officers and security later found both deceased in a Rio Hotel & Casino room; police treat the deaths as an apparent murder-suicide.
Timeline of the Incident
Friends and teammates reported 11-year-old Addilyn “Addi” Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, missing when they did not arrive for the competition events. That triggered calls to local authorities and a missing persons flyer circulated online, prompting attention from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).
Metro officers received a welfare-check call around 10:45 a.m. on Sunday and attempted to contact the room by knocking and calling in for more than 15 minutes. After getting no response, officers notified hotel security and left the area, planning further steps if needed.
Hotel security returned about four hours later, entered the room, and found McGeehan and Addi dead. Investigators later established the timeline of discovery and began standard homicide procedures led by LVMPD homicide detectives.
Welfare Check and Room Entry
The initial welfare check followed normal LVMPD protocol: officers attempted contact from the hallway and coordinated with Rio Hotel & Casino security staff. Officers left after the first contact attempt because the door remained unanswered and no immediate signs of emergency were visible in public areas.
Hotel security conducted the subsequent entry that located the victims. Security personnel notified Metro detectives upon finding the bodies. Lt. Robert Price of LVMPD briefed media that security’s entry led to the discovery, and the health and safety status of the scene prompted homicide investigators to secure the room.
Investigators documented the room, collected evidence, and restricted access. The hotel cooperated with police while staff and guests were kept away from the immediate scene to preserve evidence and ensure a controlled investigation.
Initial Police Findings
LVMPD homicide investigators, assisted by Metro detectives, reported that evidence at the scene indicated the mother fatally shot her daughter before taking her own life. A note was found in the room; police did not release its contents publicly while the inquiry continued.
Lt. Robert Price confirmed the identities through the Clark County coroner’s office and described the incident as a suspected murder-suicide. Detectives continued to process the scene, interview witnesses, and review hotel video and records to establish movements and timing.
Officials said the investigation remained active as detectives examined custody history and other potential motives. The case file, evidence chain, and coroner’s findings will inform any final determinations by LVMPD homicide personnel.
Victims Identified and Community Reaction
Authorities confirmed the two people found in a Las Vegas hotel room were a Utah mother and her 11‑year‑old daughter. Community leaders, coaches, and family members have responded with public statements, memorials, and social media tributes.
Who Were Tawnia McGeehan and Addi Smith
Tawnia McGeehan, in her mid‑30s, traveled from Utah with her daughter to attend a national cheer competition in Las Vegas. Las Vegas police and local reports say investigators are treating the case as an apparent murder‑suicide after both were found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.
Addi Smith was an 11‑year‑old cheerleader who competed with Utah teams and was described online by coaches and former teammates as bright and energetic. Family members and social posts identified the pair after police withheld names; the Clark County coroner later handled official identification and next‑of‑kin notifications.
Their presence at the JAMZ National Cheer Competition contextualized why teams from Utah were in Las Vegas. Former teammates and coaches linked Addi to gyms including Utah Xtreme Cheer, where she was remembered for her smile and enthusiasm.
Utah Xtreme Cheer Team Response
Utah Xtreme Cheer issued a heartfelt statement confirming Addi’s death and asking for privacy as the family grieves. The gym’s owner described Addi as “so beyond loved” and framed the loss as devastating to the UXC community.
Coaches and teammates posted photos and memories on social platforms, and the team distributed a missing‑persons flyer when Addi and her mother first could not be located. The competition itself paused for a moment of silence; event organizers and competitors acknowledged Addi during the final day.
The gym and event hosts coordinated with traveling families to provide support, and outside programs sent condolences. Fundraising efforts and messages of solidarity circulated among the broader cheer community.
Memorials and Statements from Family
Family members, including Addi’s uncle who organized a GoFundMe, appealed for financial help to cover funeral costs and immediate needs. Posts from relatives described the family as “in deep shock,” asking for respect and space while they make arrangements.
Brad Smith, identified in coverage as a relative, joined others in sharing memories and urging the community to support the family. Public statements emphasized Addi’s favorite colors, blue and pink, which several groups used in small memorial displays.
Local churches, gyms, and fellow competitors arranged informal vigils and social media memorials. The Clark County coroner’s office released limited administrative details, and the family requested privacy as they work with investigators and finalize private services.
Unraveling the Circumstances: Factors Leading Up to the Tragedy
Tension around custody, a national cheer competition in Las Vegas, and local reactions within the cheer community framed the days before the deaths. Court disputes and travel for the JAMZ competition intersected with strained relationships at home.
Custody Battle Details
Court records show a contested custody situation involving the child’s family. Reports mention a messy custody dispute with the girl’s father, Brad Smith, appearing in media accounts connected to the family’s background.
Documents filed in family court typically track exchanges, parenting time, and orders; here, relatives and online commenters described ongoing conflict over custody that had intensified in recent months.
Those disputes reportedly affected daily routines and communications between parents. Friends said the mother had faced legal pressure and emotional strain related to custody arrangements, and that strain may have influenced travel plans and the decision to attend the competition.
Police statements did not release detailed court filings, but multiple news outlets linked the family’s prior custody contention to the broader context of the incident.
Cheer Competition Weekend
The mother and daughter traveled to Las Vegas to attend a national cheer event, with Utah Xtreme Cheer listed among teams at the JAMZ competition. They arrived Saturday and the team competed that day according to social media posts.
Hotel security and police logged their entries and later conducted welfare checks after the pair missed scheduled events and failed to appear.
Team posts and family notices circulated as friends searched for them. Organizers and teammates reacted publicly after the bodies were found, noting the trip was specifically for the cheer competition and that the girl had been an active member of her gym.
Event schedules, travel logistics, and missed check-ins helped narrow the timeline for investigators when the room was entered and the deaths discovered.
Tensions in the Cheer Community
The gym and wider cheer community responded with shock and condolence messages, revealing close ties between families and teams. Teammates and other gym owners posted that they were “heartbroken” and urged privacy while they processed the loss.
Social media threads showed a mix of grief and speculation, with some commenters referencing the custody dispute and others focusing on the pressures of competitive cheer.
Competitive cheer environments can heighten stress around travel, performance, and parental involvement; observers said those pressures sometimes exacerbate existing family conflicts. Local gym leadership noted they were coordinating support for athletes and attending to team schedules disrupted by the tragedy.
Police and organizers asked the public to avoid spreading unverified details while investigators examined the scene and related circumstances.
Investigation and Ongoing Questions
Police and officials have described the scene as an apparent murder-suicide and say investigators are still gathering physical evidence, witness statements, and official records. Key questions remain about motive, timeline, and documents that could clarify custody history and travel arrangements.
Murder-Suicide Confirmation
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) investigators responded to a welfare check at the Rio Hotel after the mother and her 11-year-old daughter failed to arrive for scheduled events. Officers found both deceased and have classified the incident as an apparent murder-suicide based on the initial on-site assessment and statements from responding detectives.
LVMPD homicide detectives continue to treat the case as an active investigation while coordinating with Clark County coroner personnel to confirm cause and manner of death. Public statements so far have avoided announcing final determinations until autopsy results and ballistics are complete.
Recovered Evidence and Note
Investigators reported recovering a firearm at the hotel room and are processing it for fingerprints and ballistic matches. Forensic teams are also cataloging bedding, digital devices, and any written material found in the suite.
Law enforcement sources indicate a note was found, but officials have not released its full contents. Detectives will analyze handwriting, ink, and paper, and prosecutors may review the note’s relevance to motive and intent before releasing excerpts publicly.
Pending Official Reports
The Clark County coroner will issue an autopsy report that lists cause and manner of death; that report will be central to confirming the murder-suicide determination. Toxicology results from the coroner’s lab can take several weeks and will inform whether substances played a role.
LVMPD homicide will file a supplemental investigative report once ballistics, digital forensics, and interviews are complete. Copies of custody-related court records and travel bookings are being collected to establish timeline and legal context, and those documents could be released in redacted form during the ongoing probe.
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