What began as a routine welfare check in a Las Vegas hotel ended in a heartbreaking discovery that has left investigators and the community grappling with the tragic loss of a young girl and her mother. On the afternoon of February 15, hotel staff and emergency responders entered a room and found 11-year-old Addilyn Smith and her 34-year-old mother, Tawnia McGeehan, both fatally shot. Authorities now believe the devastating incident may have been a murder-suicide.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) initially responded earlier that morning after receiving a request for a welfare check on the pair. Addilyn had been scheduled to participate in a cheerleading competition in Las Vegas, but when she failed to appear, her concerned coach contacted authorities. According to 911 call records later obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the coach feared something might be wrong after repeated attempts to reach the girl and her mother were unsuccessful.
Officers arrived at the hotel and knocked on the door of the room where the mother and daughter were believed to be staying. When no one answered, police assessed the situation but reported that there were no immediate signs suggesting the two were in danger. With no clear indication of distress, the officers cleared the call and left the scene.
However, concern about the pair did not fade. Over the following hours, hotel staff reportedly received additional requests asking them to check on the room. The repeated concerns prompted employees to take another look. Then, shortly after 2:20 p.m., the situation took a troubling turn.
At approximately 2:26 p.m., fire officials contacted dispatchers after noticing a note posted on a hotel room door that led them to suspect a possible suicide attempt. The exact wording of the note has not been publicly disclosed, and authorities have not confirmed whether it was placed on the same door of the room where McGeehan and her daughter were staying. Nevertheless, the alarming discovery prompted immediate action.
Just one minute later, at 2:27 p.m., hotel staff entered the room to investigate. What they encountered inside was a devastating scene. Emergency services were called, and by 2:35 p.m., ambulance personnel reported to dispatch that they had found an adult woman and a child deceased inside the room.
Investigators now believe McGeehan fatally shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself, though authorities have continued reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident. The identities of the victims were not initially released by police, but PEOPLE later confirmed their names through a family member.
The tragedy has left many searching for answers, especially given the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding Addilyn, who had traveled to Las Vegas to compete in what should have been an exciting cheerleading event. As the investigation continues, the loss of a young life and the events leading up to that quiet hotel room discovery remain deeply unsettling.