Crime
Tawnia McGeehan and her preteen daughter Addi Smith found dead inside Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Authorities have confirmed that a mother and daughter from West Jordan, Utah, who were reported missing while attending a cheer competition in Las Vegas, were found deceased inside a guest room at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Investigators are treating the case as an apparent murder-suicide.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers initially responded to a welfare check at the resort at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday after family members and friends reported being unable to reach the pair.
Police and hotel security personnel knocked repeatedly on the hotel room door and announced their presence but received no response.
At that time, officers cleared the scene without making entry.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 2:30 p.m., hotel security returned to the room and forcibly entered after continued attempts to make contact were unsuccessful.
Inside, security personnel discovered both individuals deceased. Patrol officers were notified, and the case was immediately turned over to homicide investigators.
Authorities later identified the victims as 35-year-old Tawnia McGeehan and her preteen daughter, Addi Smith, both of Utah.
Homicide Lt. Robert Price stated that investigators believe McGeehan fatally shot her daughter sometime Saturday night before taking her own life.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Lt. Price described the circumstances as “sad and tragic” and confirmed that a note was recovered during the investigation. However, he declined to disclose its contents or discuss a potential motive, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
The mother and daughter had traveled to Las Vegas to attend a cheer and dance competition but failed to appear Sunday morning, prompting concern from their Utah-based cheer organization, Utah Xtreme Cheer.
A missing persons flyer had circulated earlier identifying the two before authorities formally confirmed their deaths.
Utah Xtreme Cheer later issued a public statement expressing profound grief over the loss of Addi Smith, describing her as a deeply loved member of their athletic community and requesting privacy for the family during this difficult time.
The investigation remains open, and authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Law enforcement officials extended their condolences to the victims’ family, friends, and teammates as the community continues to process the tragic loss.
Crime
Walls Police Officer Da’Quarius Burton Injured in Deadly Mississippi Crash, Mother Confirms He Is Alive and Safe
DESOTO COUNTY, Mississippi — Walls Police Officer Da’Quarius Burton was injured in a deadly two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 61 in DeSoto County, Mississippi, but his mother has confirmed that he is alive, safe and recovering following the crash.
Burton, 27, of Memphis, Tennessee, was driving a Dodge Durango involved in the collision shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 and Church Road in Walls.
The crash claimed the lives of three people traveling in a Honda Accord. The incident also left another passenger injured and involved employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detention Center.
Following the crash, misinformation circulated online suggesting that Burton had died and that he was a juvenile detention officer.
His mother, Tee Burton, publicly addressed the reports, firmly correcting the information and asking people to stop sharing unverified claims.
She confirmed that her son is alive, safe and okay. She also emphasized that he is not a juvenile detention officer.
In her statement, she expressed disappointment over reports falsely identifying her son as one of the people who died in the collision.
She also acknowledged the families who lost loved ones and urged the public to show compassion toward everyone affected by the tragedy.
Her statement included the following message:
“My son is alive!!! He is safe, and he is okay!!!”
She further asked people to verify information before publishing or reposting details that could cause unnecessary emotional distress to families.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, a northbound Dodge Durango traveling on U.S. Highway 61 collided with a westbound Honda Accord traveling on Church Road.
Three occupants of the Honda were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the victims as:
- Latasha N. Dodson, 37, of Horn Lake, Mississippi, the Honda driver.
- Eddie L. Dodson Jr., 41, of Byhalia, Mississippi.
- Tamenshia R. Ford, 32, of Horn Lake, Mississippi.
Burton and another passenger in the Honda survived the collision but sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Their specific medical conditions have not been publicly detailed in the information provided.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two people involved in the crash were employees of its Juvenile Detention Center.
One of those employees was Tamenshia R. Ford, who died in the collision. The second employee was seriously injured.
Sheriff Thomas E. Tuggle II expressed condolences following the death of the employee, describing the person as a respected and beloved member of the department.
“Our fallen officer was a respected and beloved member of our team,” Tuggle said.
The sheriff’s office also recognized the employee’s dedication, compassion and commitment to working with young people entrusted to the facility’s care.
State officials confirmed that the Dodge Durango involved in the collision belonged to the Walls Police Department.
The city’s mayor and police chief also confirmed that a Walls police officer was involved in the crash. Burton’s mother has since clarified that her son is the officer and that he survived.
An SUV displaying Walls Police Department identification was seen being towed from the crash scene Wednesday night.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the fatal collision.
Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the vehicles colliding.
The crash resulted in three deaths and left multiple people injured. Burton’s family has asked the public to respect the victims and their loved ones while avoiding the spread of false information.
The investigation remains ongoing.