The stepmom of the young cheerleader who was killed by her mother in a Las Vegas hotel posted a haunting plea for help before the 11-year-old and troubled “dance mom” were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide.
“My daughter Addi and her mom [are] missing please share post and call or text with any information thank you!” McKennly Smith posted on Facebook with a missing persons poster.
The poster shows Addi Smith and her mom, 38-year-old Tawnia McGeehan, smiling in a photo together, and lists their last known location as the New York New York Hotel in Las Vegas.
Alarmed cheer team members contacted police on Sunday after the mom and daughter failed to show up for Addi’s cheer competition.
Cops visited their room at the Rio Hotel & Casino around 10:45 a.m., but left after not getting a response at the door and having no indication either was in danger, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.
Family members continued to press police and hotel officials to check on the room. Hotel security decided to enter the room and discovered Addi and McGeehan shot dead roughly four hours after police had left.
McGeehan, who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with her ex-husband, Brad Smith, had left behind an apparent suicide note, according to police.
Addi was a cheerleader for Xtreme Cheer, which was devastated by her death.
“No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family,” the cheer team said.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
