Topline: Investigators believe the shooting happened sometime Saturday night while the pair were in town for a cheer competition.
Published: February 17, 2026 8:47 am ET
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Tawnia McGeehan, right, and her daughter, Addi Smith (via Facebook).
LAS VEGAS, NV — A Utah mother and her preteen daughter who traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition were found dead Sunday inside a hotel room at the Rio Hotel & Casino in what police are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide.
Homicide detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a welfare check request at the resort west of the Las Vegas Strip around 10:45 a.m., according to KTNV.
Officers were asked to check on Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter, Addi Smith, after family members and friends reported they had not shown up to their scheduled competition.
A missing persons flyer circulated on social media indicated the pair had last been seen around 8 p.m. Saturday at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. That same morning, Utah Xtreme Cheer posted a plea online asking for help locating them.
“One of our athletes and her mom are currently missing from Las Vegas,” the Salt Lake City-based cheer organization wrote. “They did not arrive to competition today, and we have been unable to contact them. At this point, we are extremely worried. Police have been contacted.”
Police and hotel security went to the room at the Rio Hotel & Casino late Sunday morning and knocked several times, calling out to the occupants and attempting to reach them by phone, Price said during a press conference. Receiving no response and lacking sufficient cause to force entry, officers advised hotel security and left the property.
According to investigators, continued outreach from concerned relatives and friends prompted security staff to return to the room around 2:30 p.m. When repeated knocks again went unanswered, security personnel entered the room and discovered the bodies of a woman in her mid-30s and a preteen girl. Police were immediately called back to the scene, and homicide detectives launched an investigation.
Authorities have since identified the pair as McGeehan and Smith. Price said investigators believe that at some point Saturday night, the mother shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. A note was recovered at the scene, though Price said he was not at liberty to discuss its contents.
“This is a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family,” police said during Sunday’s press conference. Price similarly described the circumstances as “sad and tragic” and said investigators’ hearts go out to the family members of both the woman and child.
Utah Xtreme Cheer later confirmed “the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” KSTU reported.
“We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice,” the organization stated. “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and continue to send them love as they navigate this unimaginable loss.” In a separate post, the gym added, “She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”
According to KTVX, gym owner Kory Uyetake remembered Addi as a source of energy and leadership on the team. Addi “was kind of a hype man on the team, she was always the person to get up there and get the kids pumped up when things weren’t really going their way. She was kind of that positive influence that the team needed always willing to be a leader. ‘She was an athlete that just embodied everything that we that we strive to have and we strive to do and teach our kids at my gym.’”
Other Utah youth organizations, including Utah Fusion All-Stars and Utah Cinderella Pageant, shared condolences, noting Addi had participated in their programs. The Salem Police Department in Utah said Addi was the niece of one of its officers, Sgt. Smith.
“[We] are coming together as a department to support Sergeant Smith and his family during this unimaginable time,” the department wrote on Facebook.
A spokesperson for the Rio Hotel & Casino said in a statement: “We are aware of the incident that occurred at the resort. All inquiries regarding the situation should be directed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as they are handling the investigation.”
Court records show McGeehan and Addi’s father, Bradly Smith, had been involved in a nearly nine-year custody dispute following the couple’s 2015 divorce filing. During that time, several temporary restraining orders were issued, and the court imposed strict guidelines for custody exchanges, initially requiring handovers at the child’s school and later at a police station when school was not in session. The parents were also ordered not to film the exchanges. The divorce decree was finalized and signed by a judge in 2024.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details have been released. A GoFundMe page has been created by the family to help cover funeral expenses and provide support.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Police: Utah Cheer Mom Shot Daughter Before Killing Herself at Las Vegas Resort
Investigators believe the shooting happened sometime Saturday night while the pair were in town for a cheer competition.
By Jacob Charles
Published: February 17, 2026 8:47 am ET
Tawnia McGeehan, right, and her daughter, Addi Smith (via Facebook).
LAS VEGAS, NV — A Utah mother and her preteen daughter who traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition were found dead Sunday inside a hotel room at the Rio Hotel & Casino in what police are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide.
Homicide detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a welfare check request at the resort west of the Las Vegas Strip around 10:45 a.m., according to KTNV.
Officers were asked to check on Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter, Addi Smith, after family members and friends reported they had not shown up to their scheduled competition.
A missing persons flyer circulated on social media indicated the pair had last been seen around 8 p.m. Saturday at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. That same morning, Utah Xtreme Cheer posted a plea online asking for help locating them.
“One of our athletes and her mom are currently missing from Las Vegas,” the Salt Lake City-based cheer organization wrote. “They did not arrive to competition today, and we have been unable to contact them. At this point, we are extremely worried. Police have been contacted.”
Police and hotel security went to the room at the Rio Hotel & Casino late Sunday morning and knocked several times, calling out to the occupants and attempting to reach them by phone, Price said during a press conference. Receiving no response and lacking sufficient cause to force entry, officers advised hotel security and left the property.
According to investigators, continued outreach from concerned relatives and friends prompted security staff to return to the room around 2:30 p.m. When repeated knocks again went unanswered, security personnel entered the room and discovered the bodies of a woman in her mid-30s and a preteen girl. Police were immediately called back to the scene, and homicide detectives launched an investigation.
Authorities have since identified the pair as McGeehan and Smith. Price said investigators believe that at some point Saturday night, the mother shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. A note was recovered at the scene, though Price said he was not at liberty to discuss its contents.
“This is a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family,” police said during Sunday’s press conference. Price similarly described the circumstances as “sad and tragic” and said investigators’ hearts go out to the family members of both the woman and child.
Utah Xtreme Cheer later confirmed “the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” KSTU reported.
“We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice,” the organization stated. “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and continue to send them love as they navigate this unimaginable loss.” In a separate post, the gym added, “She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”
According to KTVX, gym owner Kory Uyetake remembered Addi as a source of energy and leadership on the team. Addi “was kind of a hype man on the team, she was always the person to get up there and get the kids pumped up when things weren’t really going their way. She was kind of that positive influence that the team needed always willing to be a leader. ‘She was an athlete that just embodied everything that we that we strive to have and we strive to do and teach our kids at my gym.’”
Other Utah youth organizations, including Utah Fusion All-Stars and Utah Cinderella Pageant, shared condolences, noting Addi had participated in their programs. The Salem Police Department in Utah said Addi was the niece of one of its officers, Sgt. Smith.
“[We] are coming together as a department to support Sergeant Smith and his family during this unimaginable time,” the department wrote on Facebook.
A spokesperson for the Rio Hotel & Casino said in a statement: “We are aware of the incident that occurred at the resort. All inquiries regarding the situation should be directed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as they are handling the investigation.”
Court records show McGeehan and Addi’s father, Bradly Smith, had been involved in a nearly nine-year custody dispute following the couple’s 2015 divorce filing. During that time, several temporary restraining orders were issued, and the court imposed strict guidelines for custody exchanges, initially requiring handovers at the child’s school and later at a police station when school was not in session. The parents were also ordered not to film the exchanges. The divorce decree was finalized and signed by a judge in 2024.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details have been released. A GoFundMe page has been created by the family to help cover funeral expenses and provide support.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Police: Utah Cheer Mom Shot Daughter Before Killing Herself at Las Vegas Resort
Investigators believe the shooting happened sometime Saturday night while the pair were in town for a cheer competition.
By Jacob Charles
Published: February 17, 2026 8:47 am ET
Tawnia McGeehan, right, and her daughter, Addi Smith (via Facebook).
LAS VEGAS, NV — A Utah mother and her preteen daughter who traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition were found dead Sunday inside a hotel room at the Rio Hotel & Casino in what police are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide.
Homicide detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a welfare check request at the resort west of the Las Vegas Strip around 10:45 a.m., according to KTNV.
Officers were asked to check on Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter, Addi Smith, after family members and friends reported they had not shown up to their scheduled competition.
A missing persons flyer circulated on social media indicated the pair had last been seen around 8 p.m. Saturday at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino. That same morning, Utah Xtreme Cheer posted a plea online asking for help locating them.
“One of our athletes and her mom are currently missing from Las Vegas,” the Salt Lake City-based cheer organization wrote. “They did not arrive to competition today, and we have been unable to contact them. At this point, we are extremely worried. Police have been contacted.”
Police and hotel security went to the room at the Rio Hotel & Casino late Sunday morning and knocked several times, calling out to the occupants and attempting to reach them by phone, Price said during a press conference. Receiving no response and lacking sufficient cause to force entry, officers advised hotel security and left the property.
According to investigators, continued outreach from concerned relatives and friends prompted security staff to return to the room around 2:30 p.m. When repeated knocks again went unanswered, security personnel entered the room and discovered the bodies of a woman in her mid-30s and a preteen girl. Police were immediately called back to the scene, and homicide detectives launched an investigation.
Authorities have since identified the pair as McGeehan and Smith. Price said investigators believe that at some point Saturday night, the mother shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. A note was recovered at the scene, though Price said he was not at liberty to discuss its contents.
“This is a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family,” police said during Sunday’s press conference. Price similarly described the circumstances as “sad and tragic” and said investigators’ hearts go out to the family members of both the woman and child.
Utah Xtreme Cheer later confirmed “the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” KSTU reported.
“We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice,” the organization stated. “Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and continue to send them love as they navigate this unimaginable loss.” In a separate post, the gym added, “She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”
According to KTVX, gym owner Kory Uyetake remembered Addi as a source of energy and leadership on the team. Addi “was kind of a hype man on the team, she was always the person to get up there and get the kids pumped up when things weren’t really going their way. She was kind of that positive influence that the team needed always willing to be a leader. ‘She was an athlete that just embodied everything that we that we strive to have and we strive to do and teach our kids at my gym.’”
Other Utah youth organizations, including Utah Fusion All-Stars and Utah Cinderella Pageant, shared condolences, noting Addi had participated in their programs. The Salem Police Department in Utah said Addi was the niece of one of its officers, Sgt. Smith.
“[We] are coming together as a department to support Sergeant Smith and his family during this unimaginable time,” the department wrote on Facebook.
A spokesperson for the Rio Hotel & Casino said in a statement: “We are aware of the incident that occurred at the resort. All inquiries regarding the situation should be directed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as they are handling the investigation.”
Court records show McGeehan and Addi’s father, Bradly Smith, had been involved in a nearly nine-year custody dispute following the couple’s 2015 divorce filing. During that time, several temporary restraining orders were issued, and the court imposed strict guidelines for custody exchanges, initially requiring handovers at the child’s school and later at a police station when school was not in session. The parents were also ordered not to film the exchanges. The divorce decree was finalized and signed by a judge in 2024.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details have been released. A GoFundMe page has been created by the family to help cover funeral expenses and provide support.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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