A South Jordan preteen daughter and her mother were found dead inside their Las Vegas hotel room on Sunday. Authorities are investigating the case as a murder-suicide.
On Sunday, Las Vegas police responded to a welfare check at the Rio Hotel, at West Flamingo Road and South Valley View Boulevard. Tawnia McGeehan, 38, and her daughter, Addi Smith, 11, were in Vegas for a cheer competition and failed to arrive at the competition and couldn’t be reached.
Officers entered the room and upon entry found both McGeehan and Smith dead. Information from investigators indicates the deaths were a result of murder-suicide with a firearm. A note was found in the room, but authorities haven’t released its content to the public.
“We want them all to know that we’re thinking about them and care for them,” a neighbor, Alison Johnson, said. “It was just absolute shock and disbelief.”
McGeehan had reportedly been in a years-long custody battle dating back to a 2015 divorce and had struggles with mental health. It’s also reported that she had been having issues with other parents in the group.
Smith was part of Utah Xtreme Cheer, a Utah-based cheer organization, which confirmed on Facebook that one of the members had passed away.
“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.”
In support of the family, neighbors in their local neighborhood tied blue and pink ribbons, Smith’s favorite colors, to trees and posts. Posters, handwritten letters, and drawings were also hung in support of Smith.
The investigation is ongoing.
Author: Andrew Streeter
Photos courtesy of utahxtremecheer via Instagram
Editor: Hannah Clove
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