# Utah Cheerleader Dies After Mother's Murder-Suicide

> 11-year-old cheerleader found dead with mother in Las Vegas hotel room after mother killed her in murder-suicide
- Title: Utah Cheerleader Dies After Mother's Murder-Suicide | Shortify
- Summary: 11-year-old cheerleader found dead with mother in Las Vegas hotel room after mother killed her in murder-suicide Mother Tawnia McGeehan killed 11-year-old…
- Keywords: addilyn smith, tawnia hope mcgeehan, utah xtreme cheer, las vegas, rio hotel casino, cheerleading competition, mental health crisis, custody dispute, murder-suicide, news, entertainment, Utah
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/16/us-news/disturbing-way-cheerleader-11-was-found-dead-after-utah-dance-mom-killed-her-in-murder-suicide-at-hotel
- Published: 2026-09-16T14:58:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: addilyn smith, tawnia hope mcgeehan, utah xtreme cheer, las vegas, rio hotel casino, cheerleading competition, mental health crisis, custody dispute, murder-suicide, news, entertainment
## Dead in hotel room
Las Vegas police found Addilyn Smith and her 34-year-old mother Tawnia McGeehan dead in a hotel room on Feb 15.

> Call 911 before walking in. Two dead bodies and one is an 11-year-old
## Cheer competition trip
The girls traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition from West Jordan, Utah.
## Handwritten suicide notes
McGeehan left suicide notes including one taped to a chair that read: 'Call 911 before walking in. Two dead bodies and one is an 11-year-old.'

> Call 911 before walking in. Two dead bodies and one is an 11-year-old
## Drug overdose
Both women had ingested quetiapine, gabapentin, lorazepam, diphenhydramine, and other drugs before the shooting.
## Custody battle
McGeehan and her ex-husband had a nine-year custody dispute over Addilyn before the deaths.
## Mental health crisis
McGeehan had a history of severe depression and past suicidal thoughts before the incident.
## Key takeaway

Mother Tawnia McGeehan killed 11-year-old Addilyn Smith in a murder-suicide after years of custody disputes and mental health struggles