The first sign that something was wrong was not a gunsH๏τ, a police report or a H๏τel alarm. It was an empty spot at a cheerleading compeтιтion. Addilyn “Addi” Smith, an 11-year-old athlete from Utah, was expected to compete in Las Vegas with her team. When she did not arrive, people around her began trying to find out where she was. Within hours, police were asked to check on Addi and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan.

The mother and daughter had traveled from Utah to Las Vegas on Feb. 13. They were staying at the Rio H๏τel & Casino while Addi prepared for the cheerleading tournament. But on Feb. 15, she failed to appear. Family members also reported that they could not reach the pair. Addi’s father, Bradley Smith, contacted police seeking ᴀssistance, while the cheer community also raised concerns.

Officers went to the H๏τel room and attempted to make contact. They knocked and called out but received no answer. The initial visit did not result in entry into the room. Later, after concerns persisted, H๏τel personnel returned and entered. Inside, they found Addi and McGeehan ᴅᴇᴀᴅ from gunsH๏τ wounds.

The subsequent investigation determined that McGeehan had killed Addi before taking her own life. The Clark County coroner ruled Addi’s death a homicide and McGeehan’s a suicide. Both deaths were attributed to gunsH๏τ wounds. The investigation later uncovered handwritten notes, including a warning placed near the entrance telling people to call 911 before entering because two people were ᴅᴇᴀᴅ inside.

The newly released autopsy and toxicology records added another disturbing element. Multiple prescription medications and other substances were detected in the mother and daughter. Investigators also found medication containers, empty capsules, sleep aids and THC gummies in the room. One note reportedly stated that Addi had been heavily medicated. Nevertheless, the coroner concluded that the deaths were caused by gunsH๏τ wounds rather than drug toxicity.

The circumstances surrounding McGeehan’s life also came under examination. According to the coroner’s report, relatives described a history of severe depression and previous suicidal thoughts. Court documents show that McGeehan and Addi’s father had experienced a prolonged custody dispute. At one point, McGeehan lost custody before the family later reached a joint custody arrangement. The records provide background to the case but do not establish a definitive motive.

For the young cheerleading community, Addi’s death represented a devastating loss. Utah Xtreme Cheer mourned the girl after her death, and the case drew widespread attention because of the circumstances surrounding the compeтιтion trip. The newly released records have now made public details that were unavailable when the tragedy first occurred.

What began as a simple concern over a missing compeтιтor ultimately became a major homicide investigation. The unanswered questions are now surrounded by a growing collection of evidence: 911 calls, H๏τel records, handwritten notes, toxicology results, court documents and the coroner’s final findings. Together, those records reconstruct much of what happened — while leaving the deepest questions about the final hours impossible to answer with certainty.

Source: https://nypost.com/2026/09/16/us-news/disturbing-way-cheerleader-11-was-found-ᴅᴇᴀᴅ-after-utah-dance-mom-killed-her-in-murder-suicide-at-H๏τel/