In a poignant and unsettling update to the tragic murder-suicide of 11-year-old cheerleader Addi Smith and her mother Tawnia McGeehan at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, new witness accounts and forensic details are emerging. A teammate has recalled Addi becoming unusually silent during warm-ups the night before the incident, poignantly noting, “She wasn’t herself anymore.” Compounding the intrigue, police have confirmed the discovery of a hotel recording device, folded up and hidden inside McGeehan’s handbag. These revelations, disclosed amid an ongoing investigation, add layers of emotional depth and potential investigative leads to a case already marked by years of custody battles, mental health struggles, and competitive pressures. As the cheer community and Addi’s family mourn, these details raise questions about the final hours and unspoken distress that may have preceded the heartbreak on February 15, 2026.
This article synthesizes the latest developments, drawing from police statements, court records, family interviews, and community responses to paint a fuller picture of a tragedy that has reverberated across Utah and beyond. While the core facts remain—a mother fatally shooting her daughter before herself—these new elements underscore the human fragility at its heart.
The Cheer Trip Turned Nightmare: Timeline of Events
Addilyn “Addi” Smith, an enthusiastic 11-year-old in her inaugural season with Utah Xtreme Cheer (UXC), arrived in Las Vegas with her mother for the JAMZ Nationals competition. The event, held at the Rio—an off-Strip hotel known for its vibrant neon facade and entertainment—promised excitement for young athletes like Addi, who loved gymnastics, friends, and the thrill of performance.
news3lv.com
Las Vegas police investigate apparent mother-daughter murder-suicide
Social media glimpses from McGeehan early Sunday morning captured Addi doing backflips in their room around 5 a.m., suggesting fleeting joy.
But the weekend unraveled swiftly. On Saturday, February 14, during team warm-ups, a teammate noticed Addi’s demeanor shift dramatically. “She wasn’t herself anymore,” the young cheerleader recounted to investigators, describing Addi as becoming silent and withdrawn—uncharacteristic for the typically bubbly girl. This observation, shared anonymously through sources close to the team, hints at possible distress signals overlooked in the bustle of competition prep.
The following morning, alarm grew when Addi and McGeehan missed scheduled events. Coaches and teammates alerted family, prompting Addi’s stepmother, McKennly Smith, to post a frantic missing persons flyer on social media. The red-and-blue graphic featured photos of the pair, pleading: “HAVE YOU SEEN US? Tawnia McGeehan, Addi Smith. Last seen: February 14th at the New York New York Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada around 8PM.”
news3lv.com
Girl from Utah cheer team reported missing in Las Vegas confirmed dead
It included a contact number and urged widespread sharing.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers conducted a welfare check at the Rio around 10:45 a.m. on February 15. No response led to initial restraint, but hotel security entered around 2:30 p.m., discovering the bodies with gunshot wounds. A note was found—contents still confidential—and the scene was ruled a murder-suicide: McGeehan, 34 (or 38 in some reports), shot her daughter before herself, likely late Saturday. The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed McGeehan’s death as suicide by gunshot to the head, with Addi’s as homicide.
Forensic teams recovered McGeehan’s handbag, where a hotel-provided recording device—possibly a voice recorder or nanny cam—was found folded and concealed. Police confirmed this detail in a recent update, speculating it might contain audio from the room or prior interactions, though analysis is ongoing. No public disclosure on its contents yet, but it could illuminate the “late-night exchange” about performance placement previously reported, or Addi’s observed silence.
The gun, purchased by McGeehan over a year earlier, was at the scene. Family was unaware of it, heightening the shock.
Emerging Witness Accounts: Signs of Distress
The teammate’s recall of Addi’s silence during warm-ups adds a heartbreaking personal touch. Described as “delightful” and “always happy,” Addi was a standout in her first UXC season.
sltrib.com
x.com
But on that Saturday night, something shifted. “She wasn’t herself anymore,” the teammate said, noting Addi’s usual chatter gave way to quiet withdrawal. This could tie into reported tensions: McGeehan had exchanged sharp texts with a fellow cheer mom hours before check-in, and a late-night discussion about Addi’s routine placement left her visibly upset.
Connie McGeehan, Tawnia’s 61-year-old mother, corroborated community frictions. She told reporters Tawnia received “mean” texts blaming Addi for a prior stunt drop, escalating about a month earlier. UXC owner Kory Uyetake acknowledged “comments back and forth” but insisted normalcy during travel. Yet, anonymous X posts echo rivalries: “Utah cheer mom Tawnia McGeehan got ‘mean’ texts before murder-suicide: sources.”
The hidden recording device raises speculation. Was it intended to capture disputes? Police are examining it alongside McGeehan’s cracked phone, which had an open text thread, and a 9:43 PM voicemail from days prior. A shattered phone case near the bed was photographed, potentially from impact.
reviewjournal.com
Police: Mother kills daughter, self inside off-Strip hotel room
Decades of Family Turmoil: The Custody Saga
This tragedy unfolds against a nearly decade-long custody war. McGeehan and Brad Smith divorced in 2015, igniting disputes over visitation, support, and alienation in Utah’s 4th District Court. In 2020, McGeehan lost custody temporarily for risking Addi’s bond with her father. By May 2024, joint custody was agreed: week-on, week-off, with public handoffs to avoid conflict.
Brad remarried McKennly in 2020; McGeehan sought a 2021 restraining order alleging recording of exchanges. Records show McGeehan’s supervised visits and violence history, yet she retained parental rights. Connie noted Tawnia’s lifelong depression but recent improvement.
Experts like Dr. Elena Ramirez, a psychologist, note high-conflict divorces amplify stress, especially with external pressures like cheer rivalries.
The Cheer World’s Grief and Hidden Tensions
UXC, a championship gym, is reeling.
sltrib.com
Utah cheer community mourns loss of Addi Smith
Statements mourn: “We are devastated over the loss of Addi Smith… She was a beautiful girl and she didn’t deserve this.” A GoFundMe supports Brad’s family amid “unimaginable pain.”
Tributes flood in: Addi as kind, passionate.
people.com
x.com
X posts reflect: “A heartbreaking tragedy… Addi was remembered as a talented and beloved young athlete.”
But bullying shadows: Connie’s claims align with sources suggesting parental blame games intensified McGeehan’s isolation. The warm-up silence and recording device may point to captured conflicts.
In West Jordan, blue ribbons adorn homes; vigils honor Addi.
Ongoing Probe and Societal Reflections
LVMPD reviews the note, device, phone, and voicemails. The teammate’s account and hidden recorder could unlock motives blending custody, depression, and cheer stress.
This case spotlights needs: mental health in divorces, anti-bullying in sports. NAMI urges intervention for depression’s toll. In cheer, calls for supportive environments grow.
As details surface, healing prioritizes. Connie lamented: “We had no idea.” Addi’s legacy: fostering kindness.
The Rio’s lights persist, contrasting loss. This reminds of life’s fragility.
