A mother fatally shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself in a Las Vegas hotel room over the weekend, authorities said.
Tawnia McGeehan, 34, and her 11-year-old daughter, Addilyn Smith, of Utah, were reported missing after they failed to appear for a cheer competition, ABC 4 reported.
The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner confirmed their deaths on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Police said the two were found in a hotel room at the Rio Hotel & Casino on Sunday, Feb. 15 on West Flamingo Road. In a press conference, Lt. Robert Price called the case “a sad and tragic incident” and said investigators recovered a note at the scene, though the motive remains under investigation.
According to police, officers received a request for a welfare check shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday and attempted to contact the pair with help from hotel security. Officers knocked and called into the room several times but got no response. At the time, police said there was no indication anyone was in danger, and officers left.
Hotel security later received additional requests to check on the mother and daughter and entered the room around 2:27 p.m., police said. They found both unresponsive and called 911.
Authorities said both had apparent gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Based on preliminary evidence, detectives determined the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself, police said.
Utah Xtreme Cheer, a Salt Lake City-based cheer team, shared a tribute to Addilyn on Facebook, calling her “so beyond loved” and asking supporters to keep her family in their thoughts as they face “this unimaginable loss.”
A GoFundMe created by a family member to help cover funeral expenses said the family is in shock and grieving the sudden loss.
