11-Year-Old Cheerleader Killed in Las Vegas Hotel Tragedy
An 11-year-old Utah cheerleader and her mother were found shot to death inside a Las Vegas hotel room Sunday in what police are investigating as a murder-suicide.
Authorities said the pair had traveled to Nevada for a cheer competition but failed to appear at the event. Officers responded to the Rio Hotel & Casino at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday after a request for a welfare check, according to police.
After knocking multiple times and receiving no answer, officers initially left. Authorities returned later following additional requests from family members. Inside the room, they discovered the bodies of the girl and her mother.
Police said the mother is believed to have shot her daughter late Saturday before turning the gun on herself. An apparent suicide note was found at the scene, though authorities have not released its contents. Homicide detectives are continuing to investigate.
Officials confirmed the two were in Las Vegas for a cheer competition but did not initially release their names.
Cheer Community Mourns
Utah Xtreme Cheer later identified the child as Addi Smith, 11, of Salt Lake City.
“With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” the team said in a 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.”
The statement did not reference the circumstances of her death.
Authorities have not said whether anyone reported hearing gunshots inside the hotel.
Custody Dispute and Legal History
Public records and court documents reviewed by media outlets show that Addi’s mother, 38-year-old Tawnia McGeehan, had been involved in a lengthy and contentious custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brad Smith.
The couple divorced in 2015 and spent years in court over custody arrangements. Court documents from 2024 show detailed orders governing custody exchanges. Under the agreement, the parents were instructed to park five spaces apart during handovers at Addi’s school, with the child walking between vehicles alone. When school was not in session, exchanges were to take place outside the Herriman Police Department at 9 a.m. on Mondays.
The court also warned both parents not to film custody exchanges and to remain separated at school events.
Records indicate McGeehan was convicted in 2019 of custodial interference, a Class C misdemeanor. She also had multiple prior criminal offenses between 2020 and 2025, including traffic violations, shoplifting, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.
Financial filings show McGeehan declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy twice, in 2017 and 2021, and had multiple liens or civil judgments against her.
Police have not publicly connected those issues to the deaths, and investigators have not released a motive.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not indicated whether any hotel surveillance footage captured activity outside the room or if other guests reported disturbances. The case remains under investigation by Las Vegas homicide detectives.
Officials have urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the cheer community in Utah, where Addi was described as a beloved teammate and athlete.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.