Toxicology Results Shed New Light on Utah Mother and Daughter’s Las Vegas Hotel Deaths

New toxicology findings have revealed that an 11-year-old Utah cheerleader and her mother had multiple drugs in their systems when they were found dead inside a Las Vegas hotel room earlier this year.

Addilyn “Addi” Smith, 11, and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, 34, had traveled from Utah to Las Vegas in February 2026 so Addi could compete in a cheerleading tournament with the Utah Xtreme Cheer team.

On February 15, both were found dead inside their room at the Rio Hotel & Casino after they failed to appear at the competition. Authorities determined that Addilyn had died from a gunshot wound and ruled her death a homicide. McGeehan also died from a gunshot wound, and her death was ruled a suicide, making the case consistent with a murder-suicide.

Newly released autopsy and toxicology reports show that several substances were present in both mother and daughter. Addilyn’s toxicology report listed quetiapine, gabapentin, lorazepam and diphenhydramine, among other substances.

McGeehan’s report contained several of the same medications, along with additional substances including prescription sedatives, antidepressant medication, loperamide-related compounds and cannabinoids.

Despite the extensive toxicology findings, officials did not determine that the medications or other substances caused their deaths. The official cause of death for both remained gunshot wounds.

The deaths shocked the Utah cheerleading community, where Addi was known as a young athlete who had traveled to Las Vegas to compete. Her absence from the tournament quickly raised concerns among people who knew the family.

Police later discovered the mother and daughter inside the hotel room during a welfare check. Investigators also found a firearm and handwritten notes at the scene.

The newly released reports provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths, but the toxicology results do not change the coroner’s determination that Addilyn was the victim of a homicide and McGeehan died by suicide.

The case remains a devastating tragedy for Addi’s family, friends and the Utah cheerleading community, who are now mourning an 11-year-old girl whose trip to Las Vegas for a cheer competition ended in an unimaginable loss.

Source: People.com