An 11-year-old cheerleader from Utah, Addilyn Smith, was fatally shot by her mother, 34-year-old Tawnia McGeehan, inside a Las Vegas hotel room during a cheerleading tournament trip. Authorities say the mother then died by suicide. Police discovered their bodies on February 15 after hotel staff conducted a welfare check when Addilyn failed to appear at her scheduled competition.
According to law enforcement, officers initially responded to concerns but did not immediately find signs of danger. Later in the day, after additional requests for a check, hotel security entered the room and found both mother and daughter deceased. Officials have not publicly confirmed a motive behind the tragedy.
Court records reveal that the child’s parents divorced in 2017. In 2020, a judge temporarily granted Addilyn’s father sole custody, citing concerns that included parental alienation and incidents of domestic conflict that allegedly occurred in front of the child. During that period, the mother was required to have supervised visitation.
In May 2024, custody arrangements were modified, and both parents were awarded joint legal and physical custody. The reasons for that change were not immediately clear. The recent events have brought renewed attention to the family’s past legal history.
Addilyn’s cheer community has expressed deep grief over her loss. Coaches and teammates described her as passionate, hardworking, and full of pride for her sport. Her sudden death has shaken those who knew her, leaving a community mourning a young life cut tragically short.