Utah Mother and Daughter Found Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said detectives determined the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 2/17/2026, 4:40:20 PM EST

Utah Mother and Daughter Found Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide — MIssing poster depicting the mother and daughter who died in a suspected murder-suicide. (Courtesy of Voice for the Voiceless)

A pre-teen and her mother, who were thought to be missing, were found deceased in a Las Vegas hotel room.

A Clark County, Nevada spokesperson confirmed that Addilyn Smith died and that her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, 34, of West Jordan, Utah also died of a gunshot wound to the head by way of suicide

When the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) patrol officers responded to a requested welfare check at 3700 Flamingo Road, they found Smith and McGeehan suffering from gunshot wounds, according to a news statement.

The Rio Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is located at 3700 Flamingo Road in Las Vegas.

“Based on the preliminary evidence at the scene, detectives were able to determine the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself,” LVMPD officials.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The cheerleading program, Utah Xtreme Cheer (UXC), where Smith was a cheerleader in West Jordan, Utah, grieved the child's death in a statement online.

“With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” the UCX Facebook post stated. “We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”

The mother-daughter duo were on a cheer competition trip, according to Voice for the Voiceless, and were last seen at the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas around 8:00 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.

Voice for the Voiceless, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for the missing, identified Smith’s mother as Tawnia McGeehan.

“Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter, Addi Smith, have tragically been found deceased in Las Vegas, Nevada,” a Voice for the Voiceless Facebook post said. "What began as a desperate search after they failed to arrive for Addi’s cheer competition has ended in unimaginable loss. Authorities have indicated that this was a tragic domestic incident. A note was reportedly left, but no additional details have been released.”

Authorities said that the LVMPD received a request for a welfare check at 10:43 a.m. on Feb. 15, and when patrol officers along with security personnel for the property, knocked on the door and called into the room several times, they did not get a response.

At about 2:27 p.m., security personnel decided to enter the room and found the two females unresponsive.

"Addi is an athlete with Utah Xtreme Cheer in West Jordan, Utah, and she and her mother did not arrive for competition and could not be reached," Voice for the Voiceless added. "Loved ones say their vehicle was still at the hotel, along with Tawnia and Addi's belongings."