Utah
Utah girl killed by mother in apparent murder-suicide had been focus of a long custody dispute
PROVO — The 11-year old Utah girl killed by her mother before the woman killed herself, according to police, had been at the center of a long custody dispute between her parents before court records show it was settled in 2024 after more than nine years.
Authorities haven’t yet provided any public explanation for the violence, discovered Sunday, that unfolded in the Las Vegas hotel room. The records from 4th District Court in Provo, though, suggest a measure of tumult in the family, at least with regard to the relationship between Tawnia McGeehan, the girl’s mother, and her former husband, Bradley Smith, the girl’s dad.
McGeehan shot and killed her daughter, Addi Smith, 11, before shooting and killing herself, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement on Monday. The incident occurred in a hotel room in Las Vegas, where McGeehan and her daughter had traveled from Utah for a cheer competition.
Messages of sorrow followed news of the incident, and they continue. The girl’s uncle — the brother of her father — works for the Salem Police Department in Utah County, and the department issued a statement on Facebook about the tragic turn of events. “While the details of this loss are difficult to process, we are coming together as a department to support Sgt. (Greg) Smith and his family during this unimaginable time,” reads the statement.
Likewise, a GoFundMe* fundraising account created by Greg Smith to assist with funeral expenses and to support his brother laments the events. “This heartbreaking event has left the family in deep shock and grief, struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of Addi in such a way,” it reads.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department offered no new information Tuesday, saying the matter is still under investigation. The New York Post, citing McGeehan’s mother, Connie McGeehan, reported Tuesday that the younger McGeehan had struggled with depression and that the woman had had some sort of tiff with other parents on her daughter’s cheer team, Utah Xtreme Cheer.
The court records in the couple’s divorce, meanwhile, offer a glimpse into the seeming discord between Addi’s parents, at least as of 2024. McGeehan filed for divorce from Bradley Smith on Jan. 29, 2015, and the split was finalized in 2017. The back and forth over custody of Addi continued for several years, resulting in a May 7, 2024, order modifying the divorce decree and outlining a long list of rules Addi’s parents were to follow in caring for her.
Among the objectives of the rules were minimizing “the child’s exposure to harmful parental conflict,” the order reads. It states that each parent was to encourage a positive relationship between the girl and the other parent.
“Each parent shall speak positively of the other parent in the presence of the child and shall refrain from denigrating or criticizing him or her in the child’s conscious presence or discussing these legal proceedings with the child,” reads the order. “The parties shall refrain from any conduct reasonably calculated to diminish the natural love and affection the child had toward each parent or the other parent’s spouse or significant other.”
The decree had awarded the two parents joint custody and offered specific rules governing the handing off of Addi from one parent to the other. The exchanges were to take place at Addi’s school when in session and at the Herriman Police Department when out of session. “The parties are to park five parking stalls away from one another and A.S. will walk herself to the receiving parents’ car. Neither party is to videotape the child’s exchanges,” the rules read.
Both parents had the right to attend Addi’s school events and other activities. But they were to avoid interacting with one another. “That in attending those events, neither party will approach the other party. The parent bringing A.S. will allow A.S. to see and speak to the other parent for a reasonable period of time,” read the guidelines.
Utah Xtreme Cheer, the West Jordan entity where Addi trained in cheer events, issued a statement Sunday lamenting the girl’s death. “We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family,” reads the statement.
Likewise, residents in the West Jordan neighborhood where the girl lived at least part of the time tied blue ribbons around trees to remember her.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
Utah
Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results
In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.
Here are the final results, which show all the movement.
Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.
For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.
The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.
Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!
Utah
Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong
PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.
The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.
“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.
The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.
“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”
The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.
Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.
“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.
The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.
The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.
A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.
“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”
Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”
Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.
“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
Utah
Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah
HUNTSVILLE , Utah (KUTV) — Three motorcycles crashed on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
Officials said one motorcycle traveling northbound on SR-176 near milepost 10 failed to maintain its lane while navigating a curve.
The bike crossed into oncoming southbound traffic, where it collided with two other motorcycles. Officials said all three riders were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. All were wearing helmets and protective gear.
Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.
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