Tawnia McGeehan and Daughter Addi Smith Found Dead at Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Police Investigating
UPDADE: LAS VEGAS NEV., Authorities have confirmed that a mother and daughter from West Jordan, Utah, who were reported missing while attending a cheer competition in Las Vegas, were found deceased inside a guest room at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Investigators are treating the case as an apparent murder-suicide.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to a welfare check at the resort at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday after family members and friends reported they were unable to contact the pair.
Police officers and hotel security personnel knocked multiple times on the hotel room door and announced their presence but received no response.
Officers initially cleared the scene without entering the room.
Later in the afternoon, around 2:30 p.m., hotel security returned and forcibly entered the room after continued attempts to make contact were unsuccessful.
Inside, security personnel discovered both individuals deceased. Patrol officers were notified, and the case was immediately assigned to homicide investigators.
Authorities later identified the victims as 35-year-old Tawnia McGeehan and her preteen daughter, Addi Smith, both residents of Utah.
Homicide Lt. Robert Price said investigators believe McGeehan fatally shot her daughter Saturday night before taking her own life.
Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
Lt. Price described the situation as “sad and tragic” and confirmed that a note was recovered during the investigation. He declined to disclose its contents or comment on a possible motive due to the ongoing investigation.
The mother and daughter had traveled to Las Vegas to attend a cheer and dance competition but did not appear Sunday morning, prompting concern from their Utah-based cheer organization, Utah Xtreme Cheer.
A missing persons flyer circulated earlier identifying the two before authorities formally confirmed their deaths.
Utah Xtreme Cheer later released a public statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss of Addi Smith, describing her as a valued member of their athletic community and requesting privacy for the family during this time.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released further details regarding the events leading up to the incident.
Law enforcement officials extended condolences to the victims’ family, friends, and teammates as the community continues to cope with the loss.
