A horrifying tragedy involving a mother and 11-year-old daughter is sending shockwaves through the nation. Tawnia McGeehan reportedly killed her 11-year-old daughter before turning the gun on herself as the mother-daughter duo was in Las Vegas for a cheer competition. Details of the mother receiving disturbing texts from another parent before the murder-suicide now emerge.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday in Las Vegas. Police were called to check on Tawnia McGeehan, 38, and her daughter, Addi Smith, 11, at their Las Vegas hotel room after the family had called for a welfare check but didn’t get a response.
Police said in a statement that officers tried to locate the at their room at the Rio Hotel & Casino around 10:45 a.m., Sunday. Officers knocked on the door and called into the room several times, but received no response.
“Based on the details at the time, there was no belief that either was in danger and officers cleared,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.
The mom and daughter’s family and friends continued to raise the alarm. Security was knocking on the hotel room door for several hours.
Mom received “mean texts” before murdering daughter, 11, and killing herself
“At approximately 2:27 p.m., security personnel made the decision to enter the room. Upon entry, they located the two females unresponsive and called 911,” Las Vegas police explained.
Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter, Addi Smith, were found dead inside. They both had gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Police suspect McGeehan killed her daughter before turning the weapon on herself.
“Based on the preliminary evidence at the scene, detectives were able to determine the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself,” police said.
The circumstances surrounding the tragedy are not yet completely determined. However, disturbing details are emerging. The NY Post reported that Tawnia was in town with daughter Addi at a cheer competition.
“Confrontation” in the cheer team’s waiting room
The mother had received “mean” texts from other parents in their time. According to Tawnia,s mother, Connie McGeehan, she had issues with “one or two” other women who had daughters on the Utah Xtreme Cheer (UXC) team.
“There’s one or two ladies that she never got along with, and it got really bad a month ago,” McGeehan, 61, told the NY Post. “In the last comp they had, another girl got dropped, and some of the moms were saying it was because of Addi. They were texting [Tawnia] mean stuff and blaming Addi.
She continued, “Cheer was her and Addi’s life. I think something happened the day before [they died] that made her spiral.”
A source close to the Utah cheer team confirmed that there had been a “confrontation” between Tawnia and other moms in the team’s waiting room. Connie explained that her daughter “struggled with depression her whole life.” Things turned a corner as she ended a nine-year custody battle for Addi with her ex-husband in 2024.
“She was a beautiful girl”
UXC team owner Kory Uyetake told the news outlet he was aware of “comments back and forth” between Tawnia and some of the other moms. However, he added that things seemd normal on Saturday after the team traveled from Utah to Nevada for the competition.
Kory added that Addi, who was in her first season on the cheer team, “loved it.”
“She was a beautiful girl, and she didn’t deserve this,” Kory Uyetake said.
Rest in peace, Tawnia and Addie. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
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