Chilling Note on Hotel Door Foreshadowed the Deaths of a Cheer Mom and Her Young Daughter in Las Vegas

Disturbing Note Preceded Discovery of Mother and Daughter Found Dead in Las Vegas Hotel

Newly released emergency dispatch records have shed troubling light on the moments leading up to a devastating discovery at a Las Vegas hotel, where a mother and her young daughter were found fatally shot inside their room. The records indicate that a note — believed to hint at a possible suicide attempt — was found on the hotel room door just minutes before staff entered and made the grim discovery.

Who Were the Victims?

The victims have been identified by family members and court documents as 11-year-old Addilyn "Addi" Smith and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan. The two were found deceased inside a room at the Rio Hotel & Casino on February 15, following a welfare check conducted by hotel staff. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) confirmed the deaths.

A Morning of Missed Alarms

Authorities received their first call to the hotel at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time, after Addi failed to appear at a cheerleading competition. Her coach, concerned by her absence, contacted authorities and requested that someone check on the pair. Officers responded, knocking on the door and calling into the room for 15 to 20 minutes, but received no answer. With no visible signs of danger at that point, police cleared the scene and left.

Over the following hours, hotel staff fielded additional welfare check requests from concerned individuals. The situation took a more urgent turn around 2:26 p.m., when fire officials notified dispatchers that a note had been discovered on the door, raising the possibility of a suicide attempt. Hotel personnel entered the room just one minute later.

By 2:35 p.m., emergency medical responders reported to dispatchers that an adult woman and a child had been found dead inside the room.

Police Confirm Murder-Suicide

LVMPD Homicide Lieutenant Robert Price addressed the media, stating that the mother had shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. He confirmed that a note was left behind at the scene but declined to reveal its contents, citing the ongoing investigation.

The Clark County Coroner ruled that McGeehan's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, classifying the manner of death as suicide. The official cause and manner of death for Addi remain listed as pending. Authorities have not formally named the victims, though family members and court records have confirmed their identities.

A Decade-Long Custody Battle

Court documents reviewed by reporters reveal that McGeehan and Addi's father, Brad Smith, had been engaged in a bitter custody dispute for nearly ten years following their 2015 divorce. Judges had put strict exchange protocols in place to regulate how and when the parents could transfer custody of their daughter. McGeehan temporarily lost custody of Addi in 2017 but was awarded joint custody in 2020.

Tensions Within the Cheer Community

In the weeks before the tragedy, McGeehan had reportedly been targeted with hostile text messages from other parents on her daughter's Utah Xtreme Cheer team. According to her own mother, Connie McGeehan, the tension had been building for about a month prior to the incident.

"In the last competition they had, another girl got dropped and some of the moms were saying it was because of Addi," Connie McGeehan told the New York Post. "They were texting [Tawnia] mean stuff and blaming Addi."

A source close to the team also reported that a confrontation had taken place between McGeehan and another mother in a waiting area. Utah Xtreme Cheer owner Kory Uyetake acknowledged that there had been some back-and-forth between parents but noted that everything seemed normal when the group traveled to Las Vegas for the competition.

One cheer mother who spoke with media confirmed that tensions existed among some parents, but emphasized that the community's priority now is supporting the grieving children. Her own daughter, deeply affected by the loss, reportedly plans to launch a mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiative at her school in honor of Addi.

Family Asks for Privacy and Compassion

Valerie Krystine Muniz, who identified herself on social media as Addi's aunt and the sister of her father, asked the public to refrain from speculation while the family processes their grief.

"We already see so much speculation going around, so please help in just spreading love and prayers while my brother tries to pick up the pieces of what has happened," Muniz wrote. She added that her brother had fought tirelessly for his daughter throughout her life, stating, "The system failed him and her."

James Watts, McGeehan's attorney, confirmed he is aware that a note exists but has not seen its contents. He told reporters that McGeehan's mother hopes the note will eventually be returned to her once it is no longer required as evidence by law enforcement.

Investigation Remains Open

Authorities have yet to publicly establish a motive, and the investigation into the deaths of Tawnia McGeehan and Addilyn Smith remains active. When contacted for updates, Metro Police indicated that no new information was available at this time.

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 for immediate support.