Mother Fatally Shoots Daughter, Then Herself at Las Vegas Hotel in ‘Heartbreaking Event’

Police said on Sunday, Feb. 15, they found the bodies of a mother and daughter in a hotel room following a request for a welfare check

Tawnia McGeehan and daughter Addi.Credit : Tawnia McGeehan/Facebook

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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said on Sunday, Feb. 15, they found the bodies of a mother and daughter in a hotel room
“Based on the preliminary evidence at the scene, detectives were able to determine the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself,” according to a police press release
Both were pronounced dead at the scene

A mother fatally shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself in a Las Vegas hotel room over the weekend, according to authorities.

Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter Addi Smith were reported missing after they didn’t show up for a cheer competition, ABC 4 reported.

The pair were found dead in their hotel room at the Rio Hotel & Casino on Sunday, Feb. 15 on West Flamingo Road, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department press release, which did not identify the deceased.

“This is a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family,” Lt. Robert Price later said at a press conference.

He also said a note was found at the scene, though a motive for the killing is “still part of our investigation.”

According to police, officers received a request for a welfare check just before 11 a.m. Sunday.

“Patrol officers along with security personnel for the property attempted to contact the two,” according to the press release. “Officers knocked on the door and called into the room several times but did not get a response. Based on the details at the time, there was no belief that either was in danger and officers cleared.”

However, hotel security received additional requests to check on the mother and daughter and later entered their room around 2:27 p.m., per the release.

They were found unresponsive and security called 911.

Both were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

“Based on the preliminary evidence at the scene, detectives were able to determine the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself,” according to the press release.

Utah Xtreme Cheer, a Salt Lake City-based cheer team, posted about Addi’s death on Facebook.

“With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” the post read. “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. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and continue to send them love as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”

A GoFundMe page set up by a family member to help pay for funeral expenses said the “heartbreaking event has left the family in deep shock and grief, struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of Addi in such a way.”

BREAKING NEWS: Nine Years of Custody Battle Following Tawnia McGeehan’s 2015 Divorce Now a Hot Topic as Police Reveal What Was Found in Her Las Vegas Hotel Room — Including Three Sets of Court Documents and a Handwritten Letter on the Table

The tragic murder-suicide that claimed the lives of 38-year-old Tawnia McGeehan and her 11-year-old daughter Addi Smith has thrust a nearly decade-long custody war into the spotlight. Police discoveries inside their Rio Hotel & Casino room in Las Vegas—where the pair were found dead on Sunday, February 15, 2026—include three sets of court documents and a handwritten letter left prominently on the table, intensifying scrutiny over the bitter family dispute that began with McGeehan’s 2015 divorce from ex-husband Bradley Smith.

The incident unfolded during what was meant to be a joyful weekend: mother and daughter from West Jordan, Utah, traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition with Addi’s team, Utah Xtreme Cheer. When they failed to appear Sunday morning, the team posted pleas on social media for help locating them. Family and friends reported them missing, prompting a welfare check around 10:45 a.m. Hotel security knocked and called the room multiple times with no response. By about 2:30 p.m., after repeated concerns, security entered the room and discovered the bodies. Both had apparent gunshot wounds; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Robert Price confirmed in a press conference that McGeehan shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself sometime Saturday night.

The scene revealed more than just the tragedy. Authorities noted a handwritten note—widely referred to as a suicide letter—left on the table, though its contents have not been publicly disclosed. Lt. Price stated he was “not at liberty to elaborate” but confirmed its presence as part of the investigation. Adding to the intrigue, three sets of court documents were also found on the table, reportedly related to the ongoing custody proceedings. These papers have fueled speculation that the long-simmering legal battle may have contributed to McGeehan’s state of mind.

Court records paint a picture of prolonged conflict. McGeehan and Smith divorced in 2015, shortly after Addi’s birth. The ensuing nine-year dispute involved multiple temporary restraining orders, strict handover protocols (including parking five spots apart at school to avoid contact), and allegations of custodial interference against McGeehan—charges that were later dismissed. In 2020, a temporary order accused McGeehan of behavior “on the spectrum of parental alienation” and referenced domestic abuse in front of the child, leading to Smith receiving temporary sole custody. He was described as showing a “stronger understanding of the child’s needs.” By 2024, the final decree granted joint legal and physical custody on a one-week-on, one-week-off schedule, with McGeehan retaining primary residence for much of Addi’s life.

Recent reports suggest additional pressures: sources told outlets like the New York Post that McGeehan had received “mean” texts from other parents on the cheer team in the days leading up to the trip, possibly exacerbating tensions. Financial woes and the emotional toll of the custody fight were also highlighted in public records reviewed by media.

The cheer community is reeling. Utah Xtreme Cheer issued a heartbroken statement: “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.” Tributes describe Addi as a bright, talented athlete whose smile lit up competitions. Friends and family mourn the loss of a vibrant child caught in adult strife.

Police have ruled the deaths a murder-suicide, with no indication of foul play by third parties. The handwritten letter and court documents remain key pieces of evidence as investigators piece together a motive—whether rooted in despair over the custody history, recent stressors, or other undisclosed factors. No official release of the letter’s contents has occurred, leaving many to wonder if it addressed the ex-husband, the prolonged battle, or pleas for understanding.

This heartbreaking case underscores the devastating ripple effects of high-conflict divorces and custody disputes, especially when children become central figures. Mental health experts, including local psychologists commenting on the incident, note warning signs of extreme distress can be subtle but profound—particularly in parents facing perceived loss of control over their child’s life.

As investigations continue and autopsies are pending, the focus remains on supporting grieving family members on both sides. Resources for crisis support are available through national hotlines, with calls growing for greater awareness of parental mental health in contentious family court matters.

In the wake of this unimaginable loss, the discovery of those three sets of court documents and the handwritten letter has transformed a private tragedy into a public reckoning over nine years of legal warfare—and the innocent life it ultimately claimed.