Utah cheer mom, daughter found dead in Vegas amid custody fight

Delighted Utah mother who police say shot her 11-year-old daughter before turning the gun on herself inside a home Las Vegas The hotel room was the subject of a bitter, years-long custody battle with her ex-husband dating back to their 2015 divorce, according to court records.

Las Vegas police have not publicly identified the mother and daughter found dead Sunday at the Rio Hotel and Casino. However, court documents and family members identify them as Tonya McGeehan, 38, and Addie Smith, 11.

Court filings reviewed by Fox News Digital McGeehan and Addie’s father, Brad Smith, spent nearly a decade fighting over custody arrangements, with judges imposing detailed exchange protocols governing how and where parents could hand over their daughter.

Under the previous one Court ordersthe parents were asked to park five spaces apart during the custody exchange at school, with Addie walking between vehicles on his own. When school was not in session, exchanges were ordered to take place outside the Herriman Police Department at 9 a.m. The court also prohibited the parents from photographing the exchanges and required them to communicate through the court-approved custody application.

A mother shoots her daughter, then herself in an apparent murder-suicide at a Las Vegas hotel, police say

Addie Smith, 11, traveled to Las Vegas to participate in a national cheerleading competition before the bodies of her and her mother were found at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Authorities say the investigation is still ongoing. (GoFundMe)

And sometime in 2020, McGeehan temporarily lost custody after a judge found she engaged in behavior that could alienate Addie from her father, according to Records obtained by Fox 5 Las Vegas. By 2024, the parents have reached a joint legal and physical custody agreement, alternating weeks.

The mother and daughter were in Las Vegas for a cheerleading competition when they failed to show up Sunday morning, prompting a welfare check, authorities said.

The New York Post also reported that McGeehan had recently been receiving “mean” text messages from other parents on her daughter’s phone. Utah Extreme Cheer a team.

Connie McGeehan, Tonya’s mother, told the outlet that her daughter had been having problems with “one or two” of the other mothers on the team and that tensions had escalated about a month before the tragedy.

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A wide view of the JAMZ Nationals cheerleading competition in Las Vegas, where a mother and daughter from Utah were in town for the event before they were found dead in a nearby hotel.

“In their last trial, another girl was dropped and some of the mothers said it was because of Addie,” Connie McGeehan told The Post. “They were texting [Tawnia] Bad things and blame Uday.”

The newspaper quoted a source close to the team as saying that there was a recent “confrontation” between McGeehan and another mother in the waiting room. Corey Uetake, owner of Utah Extreme Chair, told the outlet that he was aware of the “back and forth comments” between McGeehan and some other parents, but said everything seemed normal when the team traveled to Las Vegas.

Another mother who spoke with Fox News Digital confirmed there were tensions between some parents, but said the focus now is on the children’s grief.

She said her daughter took the loss hard but plans to launch a mental health awareness and suicide prevention program at her school next year in honor of her friend.

Officers were called to the hotel around 10:45 a.m. local time, LVMPD Homicide Lt. Robert Price said. After knocking and calling the room for 15 to 20 minutes Without reply, Officers cleared the call.

Hotel security later received additional information from family and friends and returned to the room around 2:30 p.m., where they entered and found both victims dead.

“the mom She shot her daughter “Then she shot herself,” Price said at a news conference on Monday. He added that a note was left behind but declined to discuss its content. The investigation is still ongoing.

The coroner ruled McGeehan’s cause of death a gunshot wound to the head and described the manner of death as suicide. The cause and manner of Uday’s death are still pending.

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An outside view of the Rio Hotel and Casino and the surrounding landscape in Las Vegas on November 11, 2025. (Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Authorities did not release additional details about a possible motive. When contacted for further comment, Metro Police said they did not have any new updates.

Valerie Christine Muniz, who identified herself on social media as Adi’s aunt and her father’s sister, urged people to stop speculating as the family grieves.

“We’ve already seen a lot of speculation, so please help spread love and prayers as my brother tries to process what happened,” Muniz wrote.

“I have never known a man to love his daughter and fight for her as much as he did throughout Addie’s life,” she added. “The system failed him and her.”

Moniz did not go into details.

Addie Smith and her mother, Tonya McGeehan, traveled to Las Vegas to participate in a cheer competition before they were found dead inside a hotel room at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Las Vegas City Police are investigating the case. (Facebook/Tonya Hope McGeehan)

A GoFundMe page set up by a family member called the loss “unimaginable,” saying the family is in “deep shock and grief” as they face the difficult days ahead.

The Utah Xtreme Cheer Club, of which Addi was a member, said he was “absolutely devastated.”

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the painful news of the passing of our beautiful athlete Addie,” the organization said. “She was much loved, and will always be part of the UXC family.”

In a later update, the gym announced that it would cancel all classes and open gym sessions for the rest of the week.

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Utah Cinderella, an organization Addie was involved with, also expressed its sadness, saying her “bright smile and kindness will never be forgotten.”

Utah Fusion All Stars, another gym where Addie previously trained, said she was “much loved” and will be remembered for “the light she brought to her teams and to our gym.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Utah Xtreme Cheer for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.

Stephenie Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and immigrant crimes. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.