“I heard a door slam… then nothing.” A guest on the same floor says it was just after 11 PM when silence fell outside the room where Tawnia McGeehan and Addi Smith were staying — and investigators later logged a second pillow on the floor

A chilling new detail has emerged in the investigation into the deaths of Tawnia McGeehan, 38, and her 11-year-old daughter Addi Smith at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. A guest on the same floor recounted hearing a door slam shut just after 11 PM on Saturday night, February 14, 2026—followed by an eerie, complete silence that settled over the hallway outside their room. Investigators later documented a second pillow found on the floor inside the room, adding an unsettling layer to an already heartbreaking case classified as a murder-suicide.

The mother and daughter, from West Jordan, Utah, had traveled to Las Vegas for a cheerleading competition with Utah Xtreme Cheer or a related squad. Addi, an enthusiastic 11-year-old cheerleader, was expected to perform that weekend. When the pair failed to appear for events on Sunday morning, February 15, friends, teammates, and family grew alarmed. Social media posts and a quickly circulating missing persons flyer urged anyone with information to come forward.

Hotel staff and police responded to initial welfare check requests around 11 AM Sunday. Officers knocked repeatedly, called into the room, and received no response. With no immediate signs of distress or foul play reported at that time, they cleared the scene and advised security to monitor. As concern mounted from repeated calls and online pleas, hotel security returned to the room around 2:30 PM. Upon entering, they discovered the bodies of Tawnia McGeehan and Addi Smith, both with apparent gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) investigators quickly determined the sequence: Tawnia McGeehan shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself. A note was found in the room, though authorities have declined to release its contents or speculate publicly on motive. The Clark County Coroner’s Office ruled Tawnia McGeehan’s death a suicide, with Addi Smith’s manner of death pending final determination but consistent with homicide by her mother.

The guest’s account of the door slam around 11 PM—described in emerging reports and online discussions—aligns with the estimated time of the incident late Saturday night. Police believe the shootings occurred then, after which the room fell silent. The “second pillow on the floor” noted by investigators has fueled speculation in public forums and true-crime discussions. While details remain limited due to the ongoing investigation, some reports suggest it could indicate a struggle, a fall, or an attempt to muffle sound—though authorities have not confirmed any such interpretation. No evidence of forced entry or third-party involvement has been reported.

This tragedy is deeply intertwined with a years-long, acrimonious custody battle between Tawnia McGeehan and Addi’s father, Bradley (Brad) Smith. Court documents dating back to their 2015 divorce reveal repeated disputes, including allegations of custodial interference against McGeehan as early as 2018. In 2020, a temporary order granted Brad Smith sole custody after findings that McGeehan had engaged in behavior on the “spectrum of parental alienation,” committed domestic abuse in front of the child, and questioned her ability to co-parent effectively.

Despite these issues, a May 2024 court order reinstated joint legal and physical custody, deeming both parents “fit and proper” while giving McGeehan presumptive decision-making authority on major issues like education, health care, and religious upbringing. Brad Smith retained the right to challenge decisions in court if he disagreed. Family members and court records paint a picture of prolonged tension, with McGeehan facing charges related to withholding visitation and bankruptcy filings amid the legal fights.

The cheer community has been devastated. Tributes poured in on social media from teammates, coaches, and parents who remembered Addi as bright, energetic, and dedicated. Utah Xtreme Cheer and related groups announced her passing with heavy hearts, and a GoFundMe was established to cover funeral expenses and support the family. Relatives, including Addi’s stepmother, initially posted desperate pleas to locate the pair before learning the horrific truth.

The incident has sparked broader conversations about custody disputes, mental health support for parents in high-conflict divorces, and the unseen pressures within competitive youth activities like cheerleading. Police emphasized that this remains an active investigation, with no additional suspects or threats to the public.

In the quiet aftermath, the slammed door and the fallen pillow stand as haunting echoes of a final, irreversible moment. What unfolded behind that closed door late on February 14 will likely never be fully known beyond the note and the evidence collected. For Addi’s loved ones, the loss of a promising young girl—taken far too soon—remains an unimaginable grief. As details continue to surface, the focus remains on honoring her memory and supporting those left behind in the wake of this profound tragedy.