TRAGIC UPDATE
Cops confirm cause of death of mom and cheerleader daughter found in Las Vegas hotel room
DETECTIVES have given a tragic update on the cause of death of a mother and daughter who were found in a hotel room.
The bodies of Tawnia McGeehan and her pre-teen daughter Addi Smith were discovered at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday afternoon.
A mother-daughter duo were found dead in their Vegas hotel roomCredit: AP
The victims’ identities have yet to be confirmed but it is believed it is pre-teen Addi Smith and her mom, Tawnia McGeehanCredit: Facebook
The duo was reported missing by Utah Xtreme CheerCredit: Facebook
Investigators conducted a welfare check for the pair, who were from Utah, at 10:45 am when they failed to show up for a cheer competition they had traveled to attend.
When cops arrived at the room, they received no answer after repeatedly knocking, but they didn’t enter as they felt they didn’t have enough reason.
Later that afternoon at 2:30 pm, hotel security returned and barged in when they didn’t get a response, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said in a press conference.
After entering the room, they found both the pre-teen girl and her mother, who is in her mid-30s, dead.
Police believe the mother shot and killed her daughter before turning the gun on herself in a devastating murder-suicide, and a homicide investigation in underway.
Investigators discovered a note in the hotel room related to the deaths.
The identities of the victims have yet to be released, but Utah Xtreme Cheer confirmed they had died in a Facebook post.
“Addi has passed away,” the organization, which first reported the cheerleader missing, wrote.
“We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice.
“She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”
The cheer team asked others to keep the pre-teen’s family in their thoughts and prayers.
“We ask that you respect their privacy during this time,” the team wrote.
“Addi, we love you tremendously.”
