Police called to check on a disturbed Utah mom and her cheerleader daughter walked away from their Las Vegas hotel room door after failing to get an answer — leaving hotel security to find the pair dead inside nearly four hours later.
Alarmed family members of Tawnia McGeehan, 38, and her daughter, Addi Smith, 11, called for a welfare check on the pair in Nevada for a cheer meet, with cops trying to locate them at their room in Sin City’s Rio Hotel & Casino around 10:45 a.m. Sunday, police said.
“Officers knocked on the door and called into the room several times but did not get a response,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Monday.
Addi Smith, 11, and her mom, Tawnia McGeehan, 38, were found dead in their Sin City hotel room Sunday. KSNV“Based on the details at the time, there was no belief that either was in danger and officers cleared.”
The mom and daughter’s family and friends continued to raise the alarm, with hotel security going back to the room nearly four hours after cops left.
“At approximately 2:27 p.m., security personnel made the decision to enter the room. Upon entry, they located the two females unresponsive and called 911,” police said.
The mother and daughter both had gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Cops suspect McGeehan killed her daughter before turning the weapon on herself.
Utah Xtreme Cheer has been left heartbroken by Addi’s death. Facebook/Utah Xtreme CheerThe mom was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brad Smith, according to court docs and records seen by The Post.
McGeehan and Smith divorced in 2015 but spent nine years fighting for custody of Addi.
Follow The Post’s coverage on the Utah dance mom’s murder-suicide
- Utah dance mom ‘spiraled’ after getting ‘mean’ texts from another parent before murder-suicide: sources
- Disturbing details emerge after cops found bodies of dance mom, daughter in suspected murder-suicide
- Mom fatally shoots daughter before taking her own life in Las Vegas hotel after missing cheer competition: cops
- ‘Dance mom’ who killed daughter at Vegas cheer contest won control of 11-year-old after nasty court battle
She appeared to retain much of the control over her daughter, according to the 2024 court papers.
The ex-couple had to follow strict protocols as part of the custody deal, including parking their cars at least five spaces apart during handovers at Addi’s school.
Tawnia McGeehan with her daughter, Addi, in an undated photo. facebook/Tawnia McGeehanWhen school was out, handovers had to be conducted at the Herriman Police Department in Utah at 9 a.m.
Addi was a cheerleader for Xtreme Cheer and the team has been left heartbroken by her death.
“No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family,” it said.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
