A recently released autopsy report has detailed the deaths of a 34-year-old Utah woman and her 11-year-old stepdaughter in Las Vegas. The findings confirm that gunshot wounds were the cause of death, while also revealing the presence of multiple prescription drugs and handwritten suicide notes.
The 'Call 911' warning and the final autopsy findings
The deaths occurred seven months ago in a Las Vegas hotel room, where the victims had traveled for a cheer competition. According to the autopsy report, the scene was marked by a chilling level of premeditation, evidenced by multiple handwritten suicide notes left by the mother, 34-year-old McGeehan. One specific note explicitly warned first responders, stating, "Call 911 before walking in. Two dead bodies and one is an 11-year-old."
Police discovered the bodies of McGeehan and the young girl, identified as Smith, after Smith's father requested a welfare check. While the scene was complex, the forensic report confirms that the primary cause of death for both McGeehan and Smith was gunshot wounds, rather than the chemical substances found in their systems.
Quetiapine and gabapentin: The chemical cocktail found in the victims
Toxicology results revealed that both victims had a significant mixture of medications in their systems at the time of death.. As the report says, the substances included the antipsychotic medication quetiapine, the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin,the sedative lorazepam, and the antihistamine diphenhydramine.
The report notes that McGeehan's system contained an even broader array of chemicals, including additional prescription sedatives and antidepressants. the sequence of events suggests a calculated attempt to incapacitate the child; the findings indicate that after Smith ingested these substances, McGeehan fatally shot the 11-year-old before turning the weapon on herself.
A custody battle and severe depression as the catalyst
The motive behind the violence is linked to a volatile combination of mental health struggles and domestic instability.. McGeehan reportedly suffered from severe depression and had a documented history of suicidal ideations and the use of prescription medication to manage her condition. The report suggests that the immediate triggers for the murder-suicide were "severely depressed" feelings stemming from recent breakups and an ongoing custody battle with her ex-husband.
This tragedy echoes a broader, systemic pattern where high-conflict custody disputes and untreated mental health crises intersect with lethal outcomes. When legal battles over children become catalysts for psychological collapse, the risk of domestic violence often spikes, turning private family disputes into public tragedies.
The timing of the father's welfare check
Despite the detailed autopsy, several critical questions remain regarding the timeline of the event. It is currently unclear what specific red flag prompted Smith's father to call for a welfare check in Las Vegas, or if there had been prior warnings from McGeehan during the trip. Additionally, the report does not specify the exact window of time between the ingestion of the drug cocktail and the fatal shootings, leaving a gap in the understanding of the victims' final moments.
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