Cheer Mom and Daughter Found Dead in Vegas Hotel Room

Haunting note on hotel door hinted at tragedy before bodies discovered

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Addilyn "Addi" Smith, 11, and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, were found shot to death inside a Las Vegas hotel room after a note warning of a possible suicide attempt was discovered on the door. Police were first alerted when Addi failed to show up for a cheerleading competition, prompting her coach to request a welfare check. After hotel staff entered the room, they found the mother and daughter deceased.

Why it matters

This tragic incident raises concerns about the mental health challenges faced by some parents involved in contentious custody battles and the impact on their children. It also highlights the need for better support systems and resources to address conflicts within youth sports communities.

The details

According to dispatch records, police were first called to the Rio Hotel & Casino around 10:45 a.m. local time after Addi did not arrive for a cheerleading competition. Hotel staff later received additional requests for a welfare check, and a note warning of a possible suicide attempt was found on the door. When hotel staff entered the room, they found Addilyn "Addi" Smith, 11, and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, deceased from gunshot wounds. The Clark County coroner ruled McGeehan's death as a suicide, while Addi's cause and manner of death remain pending.

  • On February 15, 2026, police were first called to the hotel around 10:45 a.m. local time.
  • Around 2:26 p.m., fire officials advised dispatchers that a note had been found on a door and that there may have been a possible suicide attempt.
  • At approximately 2:27 p.m., hotel staff entered the room.

The players

Addilyn "Addi" Smith

An 11-year-old girl who was found deceased in the hotel room alongside her mother.

Tawnia McGeehan

The mother of Addi Smith who was found deceased in the hotel room, with her death ruled a suicide by the Clark County coroner.

Brad Smith

Addi Smith's father, who was locked in a contentious custody battle with Tawnia McGeehan for nearly a decade following their 2015 divorce.

Connie McGeehan

Tawnia McGeehan's mother, who stated that her daughter had been receiving "mean" text messages from other parents on Addi's cheerleading team.

Kory Uyetake

The owner of Utah Xtreme Cheer, Addi's cheerleading team, who acknowledged there had been "comments back and forth" between Tawnia McGeehan and some other parents.

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What they’re saying

“We already see so much speculation going around so please help in just spreading love and prayers while my brother tries to pick up the pieces of what has happened.”

— Valerie Krystine Muniz, Addi's aunt and the sister of her father (Social media)

“I have never known a man to love and fight for his daughter like he has done all of Addi's life. The system failed him and her.”

— Valerie Krystine Muniz, Addi's aunt and the sister of her father (Social media)

“I do not know what the content is. It is the family's hope at some point, when it's no longer required by law enforcement, that it will be returned to [McGeehan's] mother, [who] would like to know what was being said at the time.”

— James Watts, Attorney who represented Tawnia McGeehan (PEOPLE)

What’s next

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and authorities have not released further details about a possible motive. The Clark County coroner is still determining the cause and manner of death for Addi Smith.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for better support systems and resources to address mental health challenges and conflicts within youth sports communities, especially when they intersect with contentious custody battles. It serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact these issues can have on families and the importance of prioritizing the well-being of children.