MEDICAL DETAIL: Family Doctor Records Indicate Tawnia McGeehan Inquired About Side Effects of Abruptly Stopping Medication — Appointment Took Place Just Days Before She Failed to Return for Follow-Up Visit
In the latest medical revelation to emerge from the ongoing investigation into the murder-suicide of 11-year-old Addi Smith and her mother Tawnia McGeehan, family doctor records show that McGeehan specifically inquired about the side effects of abruptly stopping her prescribed medication during an appointment held just days before the fatal February 15, 2026, incident at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Strikingly, McGeehan never returned for her scheduled follow-up visit, leaving the inquiry unresolved and adding another layer of concern to her rapidly deteriorating mental state in the final week of her life.
The appointment, documented in records obtained during the probe, occurred approximately February 10–12, 2026 — aligning with previous reports of McGeehan making an urgent request for a medication adjustment. During the visit, she reportedly asked detailed questions about withdrawal symptoms, potential rebound effects, and risks associated with sudden discontinuation of her antidepressant and/or anti-anxiety regimen. The physician’s notes indicate McGeehan appeared “anxious but coherent,” expressing concern that the medication was contributing to her “exhaustion” rather than alleviating it. No changes were made during the visit, and a follow-up was scheduled for the following week — a visit she never attended.
This detail dovetails with the cascade of final indicators of crisis: her last admission to a friend that “I’m not unstable. I’m exhausted”; therapy records showing she booked multiple additional sessions in her final month but completed none; the 1,982-word email sent to Brad Smith at 1:47 a.m. titled “Schedule Change” with a blacked-out parenting schedule attachment; three rejected FaceTime calls from Brad followed by one from McKennly; and the chilling journal entry “They’re documenting me” written in a different colored pen.
Together, these elements suggest McGeehan may have been contemplating — or had already begun — discontinuing her medication in the days leading up to the tragedy, a decision that experts warn can trigger severe withdrawal symptoms including heightened anxiety, irritability, suicidal ideation, and impulsive behavior — particularly in someone already under extreme stress.
The Appointment: Questions About Abrupt Cessation
According to the family doctor’s notes (partially reviewed in the investigative file), McGeehan arrived for what was initially scheduled as a routine medication management check but quickly shifted focus to concerns about long-term use. She asked pointed questions:
Potential physical and psychological effects of sudden withdrawal
Timeline for symptoms to appear
Whether “cold turkey” stopping could cause rebound depression or panic
Interactions with stress from the upcoming custody mediation and cheer trip
The physician documented advising against abrupt discontinuation, emphasizing the need for a supervised taper and reinforcing the importance of the follow-up appointment. McGeehan reportedly nodded but did not commit to continuing the current dose. She left without a new prescription refill and never rescheduled or attended the planned follow-up.
This inquiry is particularly alarming because many common antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs) and anti-anxiety medications carry black-box warnings or strong cautions about discontinuation syndrome. Abrupt cessation can lead to “discontinuation syndrome” — symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, electric shock sensations (“brain zaps”), mood swings, agitation, and in rare cases, increased suicidal thoughts — especially in individuals with underlying depression or high stress.
Tying It to the Final Days: A Pattern of Disengagement
McGeehan’s failure to return for follow-up mirrors her therapy pattern: she aggressively sought more appointments in her last month but completed zero. This disengagement from professional support occurred against a backdrop of escalating stressors:
Brad Smith’s January 2026 motion to adjust the 2024 joint custody order
Ongoing “mean” texts from cheer moms blaming Addi for a stunt drop
Neighbor reports of the argument where McGeehan shouted “You won’t take her from me”
The overheard warning to Brad: “Don’t say that in front of her” (around the time Addi began calling the two homes by different names)
Nurse testimony that McGeehan was “obsessed with losing Addi Smith”
Journal entry “They’re documenting me” in a different colored pen
Her friend’s recollection of the final words — “I’m not unstable. I’m exhausted” — takes on added gravity. Exhaustion, combined with possible medication withdrawal, could have intensified paranoia, hopelessness, and impulsivity.
The Custody Context: Fear of Permanent Loss
The 2024 order had restored joint custody after years of conflict, including a 2020 finding of domestic abuse in Addi’s presence and parental alienation. McGeehan regained presumptive decision-making authority, but Brad’s recent filing threatened to roll back those gains. The mediation hearing was imminent.
McGeehan’s inquiries about stopping medication may reflect a desire to feel “clear-headed” for the fight ahead — or, tragically, a step toward disengaging from treatment altogether.
Scene and Investigation Update
At the Rio, evidence included a cracked phone with open texts, hidden recorder, sealed envelope, and the notebook with the differently inked “They’re documenting me.” The blacked-out section in the emailed parenting schedule remains under forensic recovery.
LVMPD continues cross-referencing the medical inquiry, therapy gaps, and call logs (three rejected FaceTimes from Brad, one connected from McKennly).
Community Grief and Urgent Lessons
UXC mourns Addi as a “beautiful girl.” GoFundMe supports Brad’s family. Blue ribbons and vigils persist in West Jordan.
Experts warn that abrupt medication cessation in high-stress individuals can be dangerous. The case underscores needs for: court-mandated treatment compliance in custody disputes, better monitoring of high-conflict parents, and anti-bullying measures in youth sports.
As investigators probe why McGeehan never returned for follow-up — and what role medication changes played — the words linger: “I’m not unstable. I’m exhausted.”
For those left behind, the exhaustion is now theirs — and the questions remain painfully unanswered.
The Rio’s lights burn on, but the darkness of this loss grows deeper with every new detail.
