BREAKING: JUST WON JOINT CUSTODY… THEN THIS A brutal 9-year custody war finally ends with Tawnia McGeehan regaining joint custody of her 11-year-old daughter Addi Smith.

Days later, in a Las Vegas hotel room during Addi’s cheer competition weekend, police say Tawnia shot and killed Addi before turning the gun on herself.

The community was already searching—Addi’s stepmom posted a desperate “missing” plea on Facebook with photos of the smiling mom and daughter, begging for tips after they failed to show up for the event. Hotel security did a welfare check, police came and left without forcing entry… then hours later, they returned and found the horror:

An 11-year-old Utah cheerleader and her mother were found shot to death in a hotel room at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino over the weekend in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide, capping a nearly decade-long and contentious custody dispute between the parents.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Addilyn “Addi” Smith, 11, of West Jordan, Utah, and her mother, Tawnia Hope McGeehan, 34 (some reports list her age as 38). Police say McGeehan fatally shot her daughter before taking her own life sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, February 15-16, 2026. The pair had traveled from Utah for Addi’s cheer competition with Utah Xtreme Cheer.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the Rio Hotel around 10:45 a.m. Sunday for a welfare check after the girl failed to appear at the event. Hotel security and police met at the room but did not force entry at that time, finding no immediate signs of distress. Hours later, around 2:27 p.m., security re-entered and discovered both unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities confirmed a note was found in the room, though its contents have not been released publicly. The investigation remains ongoing, with no additional motive disclosed beyond the apparent murder-suicide ruling for McGeehan’s death. Addi’s official cause and manner of death were pending as of mid-week.

Court records from Utah County’s 4th District Court reveal a prolonged and often heated custody battle between McGeehan and Addi’s father, Bradley Smith, dating back to their 2015 divorce—shortly before Addi’s first birthday. Initial filings involved disputes over custody, child support, and schooling.

In December 2020, following a temporary order hearing, the court granted Bradley Smith sole physical custody temporarily, citing concerns that McGeehan had engaged in behavior on the “spectrum of parental alienation” and allegedly committed domestic abuse in the child’s presence. The judge noted at the time that Smith demonstrated a “better understanding of the child’s needs.”

By May 2024, however, the parties reached an agreement. A judge modified the divorce decree to award joint legal and joint physical custody on a week-on, week-off schedule—meaning McGeehan had recently regained significant parenting time after years of limited or supervised access.

In 2021, McGeehan filed for a temporary restraining order alleging that Addi’s stepmother, McKennly Smith, was recording custody exchanges in violation of court orders. The stepmother has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the deaths.

Just hours after the tragedy unfolded, McKennly Smith posted a desperate plea on Facebook: “My daughter Addi and her mom [are] missing please share post and call or text with any information thank you!” The post included a missing persons flyer featuring smiling photos of Addi and McGeehan, listing their last known location near the New York-New York Hotel (though they were later confirmed at the Rio). The plea circulated quickly in the cheer community before news broke of the grim discovery.

The Utah cheer world has been left in mourning. Addi was described by coaches and teammates as a bright, dedicated athlete who “lived fully” for cheerleading. Utah Xtreme Cheer issued statements expressing profound grief, calling Addi a beloved teammate whose absence at the competition prompted immediate concern and outreach to authorities.

Reports from outlets including the New York Post and others indicate McGeehan had reportedly received “mean texts” from other parents on the team in the lead-up to the event, adding layers of stress to an already high-pressure environment. Her mother, Connie McGeehan, told reporters her daughter and granddaughter were close, with Addi appearing happy despite family challenges.

A GoFundMe page created by Addi’s uncle, Greg Smith, to assist Bradley and McKennly Smith with funeral expenses has drawn significant donations from the community. Tributes describe Addi as kind, energetic, and passionate about her sport and friends.

The incident has renewed attention on the emotional toll of prolonged custody battles, particularly in cases involving allegations of alienation or domestic issues. Experts note that such disputes can create immense strain on parents and children, though no direct link to the violence has been confirmed by authorities.

Police emphasize the case is isolated, with no ongoing public safety threat. The Rio Hotel cooperated fully with investigators, who processed the scene extensively.

The cheer community and broader public continue to grapple with the loss. Addi’s uncle and family have asked for privacy amid the outpouring of support, while calling for compassion in remembering a young girl whose life was cut short.

As details slowly emerge—particularly around the note and any final communications—questions linger about what led to the unthinkable. For now, a family fractured by years of legal fighting faces an unimaginable new grief, and a promising young cheerleader’s story ends in tragedy rather than triumph on the competition floor.