A young girl from Utah and her mother have died in an apparent murder-suicide
Published by RawNews1st
Officers responded to a hotel near West Flamingo Road and South Valley View Boulevard in Las Vegas, Nevada, for a welfare check after a mother and her daughter failed to arrive at a scheduled cheer competition and could not be contacted.
Upon arrival, officers located two people deceased.
Preliminary information indicates the mother shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. A note was recovered from the room. Authorities have not released details about its contents.
The child has been identified as 11-year-old Addi Smith, a competitive cheer athlete from Utah.
Police identified the mother as 38-year-old Tawnia McGeehan. Investigators believe McGeehan shot her daughter before taking her own life. The investigation remains ongoing.
Utah Xtreme Cheer confirmed that one of its athletes had died.
“With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” the organization wrote in a Facebook post. “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.”
Earlier that same day, the organization had posted that Addi and her mother were missing after they failed to arrive at the competition, noting that police had been contacted.
Utah Fusion All-Stars also identified Addi, writing that she “was absolutely loved in our gym” and “will always be remembered for her sweet smile and light that she brought to her teams.”
The Utah Cinderella Pageant expressed condolences to the family, stating that Addi’s “bright smile and kindness will never be forgotten.”
Authorities have not released additional details as the investigation continues.
