The Utah “dance mom” who killed her 11-year-old daughter before taking her own life in a Las Vegas hotel room went through an ugly custody dispute with her ex-husband starting with their divorce in 2015.

Addi Smith, 11, was found shot dead alongside her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, 38, at the Rio Hotel & Casino on Sunday after the pair failed to show up for a cheer competition, authorities said.

Court papers reveal McGeehan and her ex-husband, Brad Smith, spent a bitter nine years fighting for custody of Addi following their divorce — but the killer mom appeared to retain much of the control over her daughter, according to 2024 docs.

Addi Smith smiling in her cheer uniform.

Addi Smith is believed to have been shot and killed by her mother, Tawnia McGeehan.

A man with a beard and a woman with curly hair smile at the camera.

Brad Smith (right) in an undated photo.

Under their split custody arrangement, the court had a hand in orchestrating every detail of how the young girl was handed off between the parents after visits at their respective homes.

The couple was ordered to park their cars a full five spaces apart during custody handovers at Addi’s school, and she was made to walk between the parents’ vehicles by herself.

At times when school wasn’t in session, the parents were ordered to conduct the handover outside the Herriman Police Department in Utah at 9 a.m. every Monday.

The parents were further warned never to film the custody handovers, and to stay away from one another at Addi’s school events.

The court instructed them to attempt to resolve any issues that arose around parental decisions via email first, while deferring to “support professionals” including Addi’s teachers, pediatrician or therapist.

If they were unable to come to an agreement via email, both parents had to attend a mediation session.

A preteen girl in a cheer bow and a woman smile, seen through pink lighting.

Tawnia McGeehan allegedly shot and killed her daughter, Addi, before taking her own life.

Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter Addi Smith smiling for a photo.

Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter, Addi, were reported missing before being found dead.

A man and a young girl smiling for a photo while in a golf cart.

Addi’s dad, Brad Smith, and her mom were divorced.
Facebook/Brad Smith
The divorce decree documents, first reported on by Daily Mail, gave McGeehan decision-making authority over Addi as the divorce petitioner.

However, Smith was allowed to take the issue to court if he disagreed with any of her decisions.

The parents were required to use a court-approved custody app called Family Wizard, where both were expected to “post significant events in which the child is involved,” such as school, sports, religious, community events, as well as medical appointments.

The app’s text message function was only to be used “in order to address emergencies” involving Addi.