Vegas Cheer Competition Horror: Mother Kills Daughter, Then Herself Inside Las Vegas Hotel Room | Crime Alert 6AM 02.18.26

Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Vegas Cheer Competition Horror: Mother Kills Daughter, Then Herself Inside Las Vegas Hotel Room | Crime Alert 6AM 02.18.26
Date: February 18, 2026

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Overview

This episode provides detailed coverage of three shocking crime cases making headlines, headlined by the tragic murder-suicide involving a Utah mother and her daughter at a Las Vegas hotel during a cheerleading competition weekend. Additional cases include the ongoing investigation of a missing and murdered woman in North Dakota and the disturbing beheading of a pet dog in Atlanta. The show delivers rapid, fact-based updates while including emotional perspectives from those close to the crimes.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Vegas Cheer Competition Tragedy (00:00–02:25)

• Incident Summary:

  • A Utah mother, Tanya McGeehan, shot and killed her 11-year-old daughter, Addie Smith, before turning the gun on herself in their Rio Hotel room near the Las Vegas Strip.
  • The pair were in Las Vegas for a cheer competition; Addie was reported missing when she failed to appear.
  • Police conducted a welfare check, found no response, and later discovered both deceased, concluding it was a murder-suicide.
  • Notable Detail: A note was left in the room, but its contents have not been released.

• Background and Community Impact:

  • Addie was active in the cheerleading community, described as uplifting and beloved among teammates and coaches.
  • The local police supported the family, confirming Addie was the niece of a police sergeant in Salem, Utah.
  • The parents had a protracted custody battle from 2015 until a final agreement in 2024.

• Support Efforts:

  • GoFundMe organized for funeral expenses, with significant community support ($25,052 raised so far out of a $45,000 goal).

• Memorable Quotes:

  • "Any kid that I get to work with, it is an honor for me and for Addie especially. It was a priv privilege to be a part of her life and to be able to love her." — Emily Morgan, former coach (01:28)
  • "They had a very early call time to get to the event and she was nowhere to be found. So we called, called, called, sent messages and nobody was able to get a hold of her." — Teammate's parent (00:57)

2. North Dakota Dismemberment Case (02:25–05:41)

• Incident Summary:

  • 25-year-old Isadora Wengel disappeared in early January.
  • Her boyfriend, Joshua Alexander Hite, arrested and charged with murder and multiple felonies.
  • Extensive forensic evidence discovered, including blood-matched DNA, human remains on a saw blade, and evidence of dismemberment and body disposal efforts.

• Investigation Details:

  • A fixed focus on a black 27-gallon tote believed used to dispose of remains.
  • Digital trails revealed searches for tools, disposal, and legal alias registration.
  • Hite allegedly used Wengel’s phone to text family, attempting to cover her death.

• Community Mobilization:

  • Residents recruited to search riversides and rural properties for Wengel's body.
  • GoFundMe set up for the family ($14,203 of $16,000 goal), emphasizing the urgency of finding Izzy and ensuring her a dignified burial.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • "This is a crime that is hard to imagine someone could commit, but we believe this is exactly what's happened." — Police Chief Dave Zabolski (03:25)
  • "The hard part with that is, of course we don't know where she is... but it's really important that it extends into the Minnesota side as well." — Search organizer Malia Jimenez (05:01)

3. Atlanta Dog Beheading and SWAT Standoff (05:41–08:25)

• Incident Summary:

  • A missing dog, Bambi, was found beheaded, sparking public outrage and a SWAT operation in Atlanta.
  • Jalen Wade arrested after barricading himself in his home; charged with animal cruelty and weapon-related felonies.

• Investigation Details:

  • Discovery initiated after viral Instagram post of the dead animal.
  • The dog's owner, Precious Cody, learned the fate of her pet through animal services due to microchipping.

• Public & Landlord Reaction:

  • Strange writings reportedly discovered on the walls; landlord speculates about voodoo practices.
  • The landlord described Wade as previously respectful, surprised by the developments.

• Community Response:

  • GoFundMe launched for Bambi's justice, though only $60 of the $1,600 goal raised at time of reporting.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • "She was like, I'm sorry to tell you, but a man had decapitated the dog and they found her on the porch where her head cut off." — Precious Cody (06:48)
  • "It's sad to say it because it's like my dog was not vicious. She was not vicious at all. Like if he couldn't take care of her, she could have just took her." — Precious Cody (07:02)
  • "I've been renting to him for about three years and this has never happened. He's always been a respectful guy, so this was kind of surprising to me... he was inside the house, inside of a box, hiding." — Landlord Will Owens (07:46)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Vegas Cheer Competition Murder-Suicide: 00:00–02:25
• North Dakota Dismemberment Case: 02:25–05:41
• Atlanta Dog Beheading & Standoff: 05:41–08:25

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Tone and Style

Throughout the episode, reporting remains factual and urgent, prioritizing empathy for victims and community voices. Emotional testimonials from families, police, and neighbors underline the deep impact of these violent acts, while appeals for community assistance and justice are strongly highlighted.

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Summary Takeaways

• The episode brings attention to three gut-wrenching, recently reported cases, urging both public vigilance and community support for victims and families.
• The stories are marked by senseless violence—familial, intimate, and random—set against the background of public events and social media.
• Listeners are supplied with real-world actions: donation links and police contacts, reinforcing the podcast's goal of not only informing but mobilizing the audience around justice and victim support.

Transcript

[A]

CRIME Alert Hourly UPDATE Breaking crime news now, I'm Drew Nelson. In Nevada, police say a Utah mother shot her young daughter inside a Las Vegas hotel room before killing herself during a trip for a cheer competition. Investigators identified the victims as 11 year old Addie Smith and her mother, Tanya McGeehan of Utah. They were staying at the Rio Hotel and Casino near the Las Vegas Strip. The team reported them missing. After Addie failed to arrive at the competition, officers were sent for a welfare check. Sunday morning. Las Vegas Vegas Metro Police Lt. Robert Price describes what happened next. Officers arrived, met up with security, went up to the room and attempted to contact a mother and daughter in their room. They knocked several times and they called into the room without any answer. Security later entered the room that afternoon and found them both dead. Police believe it was murder suicide. Investigators said a note was left but did not release its contents. The trip had begun normally. Addie attended practice and appeared fine the day before the competition. Teammates grew worried when she disappeared. A teen parent spoke to ktvx. They had a very early call time to get to the event and she was nowhere to be found. So we called, called, called, sent messages and nobody was able to get a hold of her. Addie was a cheerleader known throughout the gym community. Her former Utah Fusion All Stars coach Emily Morgan remembers her.

[B]

Any kid that I get to work with, it is an honor for me and for Addie especially. It was a priv privilege to be a part of her life and to be able to love her.

[A]

Coaches say Addie motivated teammates and lifted the mood during practices. The Salem Police Department later confirmed Addie was the niece of a police sergeant and offered support to the family. Court records show McGeehan and Addie's father went through a custody battle lasting nearly nine years after their divorce in 2015. The parents were given strict rules for custody exchanges and finalized custody agreements in 2024. A GoFundMe has been created to help the father's family with funeral costs. The fundraiser set a $45,000 goal and raised $25,052 from 352 donations so far, including a top $2,000 contribution. Police continue to investigate and have not released a motive. More crime and justice news after this. A young woman is murdered and dismembered in North Dakota, but searchers have yet to find her remains. Investigators identified 25 year old Isadora Wengel of West Fargo as the victim and her boyfriend, 21 year old Joshua Alexander Hite, as the suspect. He was arrested a week ago and charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information to law enforcement. A judge set bail at $5 million cash and scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 11. This is a crime that is hard to imagine someone could commit, but we believe this is exactly what's happened. That's Police Chief Dave Zabolski. He says officers are focusing on a black 27 gallon tote believed connected to the disposal of the remains. Authorities asked residents in Fargo, Morehead, West Fargo and parts of otter Tail County, Minnesota, to check rural properties and roadsides. The investigation began Jan. 7, when Wankle was reported missing after last being seen around New Year's Eve and later at a Fargo Walmart. Jan. 3, officers searched the landfill for 10 days and executed multiple warrants across North Dakota and Minnesota. Court documents describe extensive forensic evidence. Police found a plastic sheet with blood matching Wengle's DNA in a dumpster outside Hite's apartment. A towel contained long, light colored hair. A saw blade recovered nearby contained what a forensic pathologist called, quote, an admixed fragmented array of human bone, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue with her DNA profile. Investigators also recovered gloves, duct tape, plastic sheeting and garbage bags inside the apartment. Records show Height bought a reciprocating saw, garbage bags and plastic sheeting. January 4th. Digital forensics showed searches including Home Depot, Sawzall, Junk removal near ME Dumpster and how to register for a legal alias. Phone data showed activity from Wangle's phone after her disappearance, including unusual photos sent to family members. Prosecutors say Height gave statements later determined not credible and allegedly used Wingle's phone to send messages appearing to come from her, creating the impression that she was still alive. They also cited evidence tampering and flight risk concerns. Meantime, community members have organized searches along the Red river on both states.

[B]

The hard part with that is, of course we don't know where she is. If it is the FM area, you know, here we are setting this up, but it's really important that it extends into the Minnesota side as well.

[A]

That search organizer, Malia Jimenez on KVLY, a GoFundMe, has been created by family members to help cover rent, bills and travel while the search for Isadora goes on. The fundraiser has set a $16,000 goal and raised $14,203 from 241 donations, including a top $500 contribution after the arrest. An update read, quote, the focus now to recovering her body and making funeral arrangements. Please help us bring Izzy home so we can lay her to rest with the dignity she deserves. Police continue asking anyone with information about the Tote or Wangles whereabouts to call Fargo Police at 701-451-7660. A woman searching for her missing dog learns the pet was beheaded after a viral Instagram post sparking outrage and a SWAT standoff in northwest Atlanta. Police say officers were called to a home on Illinois Avenue near Joseph Eboone Boulevard after someone reported a dog's severed head on a porch. Investigators found a machete nearby and tried to contact the man inside. He barricaded himself inside for hours before SWAT officers forced their way in, forced him out and arrested him. Jalen Wade now faces aggravated animal cruelty, obstruction and firearm related felony charges. The case quickly turned personal for Precious Cody, who recognized the dog as her missing pet. Bambi, gone since September, she tells WXIA she learned the truth through animal services.

[B]

She was like, I'm sorry to tell you, but a man had decapitated the dog and they found her on the porch where her head cut off.

[A]

Cody says animal control was able to contact her because Bambi was microchipped.

[B]

It's sad to say it because it's like my dog was not vicious. She was not vicious at all. Like if he couldn't take care of her, she could have just took her.

[A]

To the animal Control investigators say the suspect did not know Cody. Neighbors first alerted authorities after images of the dog appeared on Instagram leading police to the home and the hours long standoff. No officers were injured. Authorities have not released a motive as the investigation continues. One additional claim surfaced in earlier reporting. The home's landlord, Will Owens, said after the standoff he found unusual writings on the walls and believed the suspect had been practicing voodoo in the house. Here he is at impromptu news conference.

[C]

Jalen Wade. He's a tenant of mine. I've been renting to him for about three years and this has never happened. He's always been a respectful guy, so this was kind of surprising to me. Spoke to him on and off about 10 times and he kept telling me he was in a different place, but lo and behold, he was inside the house, inside of a box, hiding.

[A]

Cody has since launched the GoFundMe described as seeking justice for Bambi. The FundRaiser lists a $1,600 go and so far has raised $60 from two donors to help cover legal and veterinary record costs. For the latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert's hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Drew Nelson.