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Tragic reason 'dance mom' was in Vegas with daughter, 11, who she murdered before turning gun on herself
A weekend that was intended to be full of gymnastics sadly took a turn for tragedy as a mother and her daughter died in a suspected murder suicide.
Authorities say 38-year-old Tawnia McGeehan fatally shot her 11-year-old daughter, Addi Smith, before taking her own life inside a room at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The pair had traveled from Utah for a cheerleading tournament — one they never made it to.
Their bodies were discovered Sunday afternoon after frantic family members reported them missing and requested a welfare check.
What unfolded next has left two families — and an entire cheer community — shattered.
Why Tawnia McGeehan And Addi Smith Were In Las Vegas
The mother and daughter had made the trip from Utah to Nevada to attend a cheer competition with Utah Xtreme Cheer (UXC), a Salt Lake City-based team, per The Sun.
“It appears the mother and daughter came here for a dance competition,” LVMPD Homicide Lt. Robert Price said during a press conference.
Addi, who was in her first season with the team, had reportedly fallen in love with the sport.
According to team owner Kory Uyetake, she “loved it,” and “was the first [to practice] every time … She was a beautiful girl and she didn’t deserve this.”
The team confirmed the pair never arrived at the competition.
“One of our athletes and her mom are currently missing from Las Vegas,” Utah Xtreme Cheer posted before the tragic discovery.
“They did not arrive to competition today, and we have been unable to contact them.
“At this point, we are extremely worried. Police have been contacted.”
Addi’s stepmother, McKennly Smith, also shared a desperate plea online: “My daughter Addi and her mom [are] missing please share post and call or text with any information thank you!”
The last confirmed sighting of the pair was at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino at about 8:00PM on Saturday, according to a missing persons notice.
Just hours earlier, Tawnia had posted photos of Addi doing backflips in their hotel room at 5:00AM Sunday.
They appeared upbeat. Connie McGeehan, Tawnia’s mother, later said: “They just looked like they were happy but then there was one pic of Addi and Tawnia together and I thought something doesn’t look like right. The look was off, something had happened. Something was off.”
Welfare Check At Rio Hotel & Casino Ended In Devastating Discovery
When Addi failed to show up for the competition Sunday morning and neither she nor her mother could be reached, relatives raised the alarm, per the New York Post.
LVMPD Homicide Lt. Robert Price explained what happened next.
“Officers arrived, met with security, went up to the room, and knocked several times, and called into the room, without any answer,” he said.
They remained there for approximately 15 minutes.
“Unfortunately at that point of time we didn’t have enough information to make entry,” he added.
“Security continued to get information from family and friends asking them to attempt to locate the mother and daughter inside the casino.
“At approximately 2:30PM security went back up to the room… they knocked several times… without success.
“Security decided to make entry into the room, where they located two deceased females.”
Police were “immediately called” and the room was secured.
“Detectives were able to determine the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself,” said a police report.
Lt. Price added: “At some time… the mother shot her daughter and then shot herself. This is a sad and tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family.”
Authorities confirmed a firearm was used, though the type has not been disclosed. A note was recovered from the room, but its contents have not been released. Lt. Price also said that no guests in neighboring rooms reported hearing gunfire or any arguments.
Autopsies are being conducted by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
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