Newly released toxicology and coroner records are providing more details about the deaths of a Utah mother and her 11-year-old daughter, who were found dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room earlier this year.
Tawnia McGeehan, 34, and her daughter, Addilyn “Addi” Smith, were discovered dead at the Rio Hotel & Casino on February 15 after family members became concerned when Addi failed to appear at a cheerleading competition. Authorities determined that McGeehan shot her daughter before taking her own life.
The newly released records show that multiple prescription medications were present in both of their systems. Addilyn’s toxicology report listed quetiapine, gabapentin, lorazepam and diphenhydramine, along with caffeine. McGeehan had those substances as well as additional medications, including a sedative, an antidepressant and cannabinoids.
A handwritten note found in the hotel room also contained a statement saying that Addi had been “very medicated” before the shooting. Investigators included the note in their review of the scene, although the records do not by themselves establish exactly who administered the medications or why.
The mother and daughter had traveled from Utah to Las Vegas for Addi’s cheerleading event. When the girl did not show up for her competition and the family could not reach them, a welfare check was requested. Hotel security and police later found both of them dead in the room.
The coroner’s report also documents McGeehan’s history of mental health problems and the difficult custody dispute involving Addi’s father. The records provide additional context surrounding the case, but authorities have not described every factor as a confirmed motive.
Addi was remembered by her cheerleading community as a dedicated young athlete who was deeply loved by her teammates and family. Her sudden death shocked those who had expected to see her compete that weekend.
The new records offer a clearer picture of the final hours of the mother and daughter, but some questions remain about what led to the shooting and how the medications fit into the events. The case was investigated as a murder-suicide, with the coroner’s findings now providing additional details about what happened before their deaths.