A Cheer Competition Weekend That Ended in Tragedy

What was supposed to be a weekend filled with excitement, routines, and team moments has instead left an entire community grieving — and searching for answers.

A mother and her preteen daughter, identified within the cheer community as Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter Addi Smith, were found deceased inside a room at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

They had traveled there for a cheer competition.

They never made it to the floor.

What Happened

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were first called to the hotel Sunday morning around 10:45 a.m. for a welfare check.

Officers arrived and, along with hotel security, attempted to make contact with the occupants of the room by knocking and calling. There was no response. At that time, officers cleared the call.

But concern didn’t stop.

Family members and others continued reaching out to hotel staff throughout the day, asking them to keep trying to locate the mother and daughter.

Hours later, at approximately 2:30 p.m., hotel security returned to the room. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to make contact, they made the decision to enter.

Inside, they found two deceased individuals.

Security exited immediately and called 911. Police returned, secured the scene, and homicide detectives began their investigation.

What Authorities Have Said

Preliminary information released by police indicates that the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

Authorities stated that sometime Saturday night, the mother — who was in her mid-30s — is believed to have shot her preteen daughter before taking her own life.

A note was reportedly found inside the room, though no details about its contents have been released.

Police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that all information shared so far is preliminary.

A Timeline That Raises Questions

Saturday (Evening): Authorities believe the incident occurred sometime during the night.

Sunday – 10:45 a.m.: Police respond to a welfare check but are unable to make contact and clear the call.

Sunday – Afternoon: Continued concern from family leads to further attempts to locate them.

Sunday – Approximately 2:30 p.m.: Hotel security enters the room and discovers both individuals deceased.

Sunday – After Discovery: Police return, secure the scene, and homicide detectives begin their investigation.

What We Still Don’t Know

While initial details have been released, many questions remain unanswered.

• The exact sequence of events inside the room
• The contents and context of the note
• Whether anyone nearby heard anything unusual
• Full forensic confirmation of the timeline

This happened inside a major Las Vegas hotel during what would have been a busy competition weekend — a setting filled with families, athletes, and constant activity.

And yet, many details remain unclear.

A Loss Felt Across the Cheer Community

Addi was identified by her program, Utah Xtreme Cheer, which shared a heartfelt message describing her as deeply loved and an important part of their team.

Across the country, athletes, coaches, and families have reacted with shock and heartbreak.

This wasn’t just another weekend trip.

For many families, competition weekends involve months of preparation, significant financial investment, and memories that are meant to last a lifetime.

That is what makes this even harder to process.

An Ongoing Investigation

At this time, the case remains under active investigation.

Authorities have stated that more information will be released as it becomes available.

Until then, what is known is limited to preliminary findings — and a community left trying to understand how a weekend like this could end the way it did.