A mother suspected of killing her 11-year-old daughter before turning the gun on herself was involved in a bitter custody battle with her former husband, court documents have revealed. Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter Addi Smith were found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room, where they had travelled for a cheerleading competition.
Police believe McGeehan shot Addi on Saturday night, before taking her own life. Lieutenant Robert Price described the incident as a tragedy, saying officers responding to a welfare check found the pair after security staff entered the room.
Court papers show McGeehan had fought for custody of Addi amid her divorce from Brad Smith. A split-custody agreement was reached, with strict handover rules requiring parents to remain in their vehicles at school or, when school was not in session, at the Herriman Police Department in Utah.
In 2020, McGeehan temporarily lost custody after a court ruled she had acted to alienate Addi from her father. She later filed a restraining order against the stepmother, alleging filming of custody exchanges. By 2024, the couple had agreed to joint custody on a weekly rotation.
Tributes have poured in for Addi. Her cheer squad, Utah Xtreme Cheer, described her as a much-loved athlete, while a former coach said she took pride in her sport. Neighbours in Utah tied blue ribbons in her memory, expressing shock and sadness.
