The mother from Utah, who reportedly shot her 11-year-old daughter before taking her own life in a Las Vegas hotel room, had been involved in a lengthy custody dispute with her ex-husband since their divorce in 2015. According to available court records, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police have not disclosed the names of the victims but family members identified them as Tawnia McGeehan, age 38, and her daughter Addie Smith, age 11.
McGeehan and Addie’s father, Brad Smith, battled over custody arrangements for nearly a decade. Details from court documents reveal that judges instituted strict rules regarding how the parents would exchange their daughter, including a previous order mandating they park five spaces apart during school pickups, forcing Addie to walk alone between the vehicles. There were further stipulations, like meeting at a police department during school holidays and banning any form of recording their exchanges.
It appears that McGeehan lost custody briefly in 2020 when a judge found her actions could obstruct Addie’s relationship with her father. However, by 2024, they agreed to share joint legal and physical custody, alternating weeks.
The two were in Las Vegas for a cheerleading competition, but when they failed to show up for events on Sunday, a welfare check was initiated. Reports from the New York Post indicated that in recent days, McGeehan had received harsh messages from other parents in Addie’s cheer team. Her mother, Connie, noted that tensions had been escalating for about a month due to conflicts with “one or two” other mothers, including accusations directed at Addie following a previous competition.
Following an incident in the dressing room involving a confrontation with another mother, Corey Uetake, the owner of Utah Xtreme Cheer, mentioned he had noticed some discord among the parents, albeit nothing concerning while the team was in Las Vegas. One cheer mom acknowledged the existing tension but expressed a desire to focus on supporting the children now coping with this loss.
Local authorities were called to the hotel late Sunday morning. After repeated attempts to reach the room without a response, police finally entered later that afternoon with the help of hotel security, discovering both mother and daughter deceased. It was reported that McGeehan had shot Addie before turning the gun on herself. A note was found at the scene, though details about its contents have not been made public. The coroner has determined McGeehan’s death was by a self-inflicted gunshot wound; the cause of Addie’s death is still under investigation.
As for the motive, more details haven’t emerged. One family member urged the public to avoid speculation during their time of grief. Valerie Christine Muniz, who claims to be Addie’s aunt, expressed that her brother (Addie’s father) had fought fiercely for his daughter’s welfare, emphasizing a failure in the system.
In the wake of this tragedy, a GoFundMe page set up by the family described their loss as “unimaginable.” The Utah Extreme Cheer organization expressed their heartbreak, describing Addie as dearly loved and part of their family. Other organizations, including Utah Cinderella and Utah Fusion All Stars, also shared condolences, remembering Addie for her spirit and kindness.
