🚨 FIVE MISSED CALLS. A locked hotel room. And a horrifying 45-minute gap that sealed their fate…

11-year-old cheer star Addi Smith and her mom Tawnia McGeehan were found dead in their Rio Hotel room — but the timeline is nightmare fuel: Police get the welfare check at 10:45 AM after the team panics over no-shows. Officers knock, call out, even try the phone… FIVE missed calls go unanswered. They can’t force entry yet.

Then, after frantic pleas from family and cheer coaches, security finally breaks in at 2:30 PM — a full 45 minutes after the last attempt? Inside: bodies, a handwritten note, and the gut-wrenching reality of murder-suicide.

What happened in that locked room during those agonizing hours? The note, the missed calls, the delayed entry — this story keeps getting darker, and the cheer world (and even whispers in gaming circles mourning the loss) is reeling. 💔🚪📱

Investigators are piecing together a disturbing timeline in the murder-suicide that claimed the lives of 11-year-old cheerleader Addi Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, inside a locked room at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Key elements include five unanswered calls during a welfare check attempt, a handwritten note left at the scene, and a reported 45-minute gap between initial police contact and eventual entry — details that have intensified scrutiny of the response and deepened the tragedy’s impact on the Utah cheer community.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed McGeehan, 34 (some reports list her as 38), died by suicide after shooting her daughter. Addi, known as Addilyn in some records, was in Las Vegas with her mother for a cheer competition with Utah Xtreme Cheer. The pair failed to appear Sunday morning, prompting team members to alert authorities.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Lt. Robert Price detailed the sequence during a press briefing. Officers received a welfare check request around 10:45 a.m. Sunday after the cheer team reported no contact. Police and hotel security went to the room, knocked repeatedly, announced themselves, and attempted phone calls — five of which went unanswered. With no immediate response and insufficient legal grounds for forced entry at that stage, officers withdrew temporarily.

Family members, friends, and cheer coaches persisted with requests for checks. Hotel security returned around 2:30 p.m., knocked again without success, and decided to enter the room. Inside, they found both victims deceased from gunshot wounds. Homicide detectives determined McGeehan had shot Addi before turning the gun on herself, likely late Saturday night. A handwritten note was recovered, though its contents remain confidential pending the investigation.

The approximately 45-minute gap — from the initial failed attempts around 11 a.m. to final entry — has raised questions about hotel and police protocols in welfare check scenarios. LVMPD emphasized that entry decisions balance privacy rights with safety concerns, and the delay stemmed from procedural requirements. No criticism of the response has been officially leveled, but the timeline underscores the challenges in such cases.

The incident has shocked the competitive cheer world, where Addi was remembered as a hardworking, kind athlete who motivated teammates. Utah Xtreme Cheer posted: “With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away. We are completely heartbroken.” Former coach Emily Morgan of Utah Fusion All-Stars described her as “kind, hardworking, a friend to everyone, always smiling,” and someone who lit up the gym.

Court records reveal a nearly decade-long custody battle between McGeehan and Addi’s father, Brad Smith, following their 2015 divorce. Utah County filings included allegations of domestic violence, temporary custody shifts, and findings of parental alienation behaviors by McGeehan. A judge imposed strict exchange rules, and the case saw ongoing modifications until a 2024 settlement. Family sources indicated McGeehan faced mental health challenges and tensions within the cheer community, including negative interactions with other parents.

No direct link between the custody history and the hotel incident has been confirmed by police. The investigation continues into the firearm, digital communications, and the note’s implications. Experts note that murder-suicides often involve complex, unresolved personal crises, though specifics here remain sealed.

The cheer community has responded with memorials: practices paused, grief counseling offered, and tributes featuring blue and pink ribbons in Addi’s favorite colors. Utah Fusion All-Stars and others shared memories of her as the team’s “hype girl.” The Salem Police Department, where Addi’s uncle serves as a sergeant, expressed support for the family in this “unimaginable” time.

The Rio Hotel & Casino, off the main Strip, has cooperated with authorities. The case has sparked discussions on welfare check procedures, mental health in high-pressure youth activities, and family court dynamics. Some online chatter has extended sympathy to broader communities, including mentions in gaming circles — possibly due to shared Utah ties or online discussions — though no direct gaming connection to the victims has emerged.

As of February 18, the investigation remains active, with no additional charges expected given the suspect’s death. Funeral arrangements are pending, and the cheer world continues to mourn a young life lost amid what should have been a celebratory weekend.

The five missed calls and locked door serve as stark reminders of the final, isolated moments before discovery. For those who knew Addi, the focus remains on her bright spirit and the legacy she leaves in gyms across Utah.