Addilyn Smith toxicology findings reveal medications in her system, months after authorities said her mother killed her in Las Vegas. Newly released coroner records provide additional details about the February deaths of the 11-year-old and her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, 34.
The Clark County coroner classified Addilyn’s death as a homicide and McGeehan’s death as a suicide. Both died from gunshot wounds, according to KSL, which obtained the reports through a records request.
What the Toxicology Findings Show
The reports identified medications in both mother and daughter. KSL reported that lorazepam was present in both, while McGeehan’s results also included other prescription medications and cannabinoids.
The coroner listed gunshot wounds, rather than drug toxicity, as the cause of death. The presence of medication alone does not establish who administered it or why.
Investigators also documented handwritten notes and prescription bottles bearing McGeehan’s name, according to FOX5’s reporting on the records. One note described the child as having been medicated before her death.
They Had Traveled for a Cheerleading Competition
McGeehan and Addilyn, also known as Addi, traveled from Utah to Las Vegas on February 13. Addilyn was scheduled to compete with Utah Xtreme Cheer.
When they did not appear at the competition and relatives could not reach them, family members sought a welfare check. Police initially received no response at the hotel room and left without entering.
Hotel security later entered the room at the Rio Hotel and Casino and discovered the pair on February 15.
Reports Do Not Establish a Motive
The records include relatives’ accounts of McGeehan’s depression and distress involving relationships and a custody dispute. However, KSL reported that the coroner did not explicitly identify a motive.
Those accounts provide background, but they do not establish that depression or the custody proceedings caused the killing. Authorities have described the deaths as a murder-suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text 988 in the United States or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.