A 13-Year-Old Boy, Josiah Michael Dwinell, Passed Away Days After His Birthday

That boy was Josiah Michael Dwinell, and his death on Thursday, March 12, 2026, has left relatives and many others asking how such a harrowing story could unfold. Now, as more details emerge, the pain surrounding his final days feels even heavier because someone could’ve helped him.

A Family’s Grief in the Spotlight

According to News 9, Josiah died in Alstead, New Hampshire, eight days after turning 13. His aunt, Shaena Lyon, described the loss as “truly heartbreaking” and said he was wonderful kid that most people adored.

The town of Alstead also said in a news release that multiple agencies responded to the emergency that Thursday. Officials added that support was being made available to those involved.

At first, the public details were limited. But behind the headlines, Josiah’s family was already carrying a much larger, more agonizing story.

What His Aunt Said Happened

In reply to a Facebook post, Shaena said the circumstances leading up to Josiah’s death had not been fully understood. And what she shared was devastating.

She said Josiah had already endured an enormous loss years earlier. According to her, his biological mother, Amber, had died “5 years 3 months and 2 days ago.” This was confirmed by the New York Post, which reported that Amber died in 2021.

That report noted that Josiah’s mother also had changed her Facebook profile picture to an overdose awareness emblem in 2020. However, her exact cause of death was not immediately clear.

Since Amber’s death, Josiah’s grandmother, who adopted him, had been fighting alongside him over bullying.

Shaena alleged that Josiah was being targeted at school and on the bus. She also claimed he had gone to the hospital numerous times while his Mimi (as she called Josiah’s grandmother) sat by his side trying to get him help, but said his mental health struggles were overlooked and dismissed by people outside the home as attention-seeking.

Unfortunately, all that led to a tragedy.

According to Shaena, Josiah “decided after a bus ride home that he couldn’t handle the bullying anymore and felt the only way to stop it was to jump off a bridge into freezing cold water and not knowing how to swim.”

A Final Farewell the Family Never Expected

In the middle of their grief, Josiah’s loved ones have also had to face the practical reality that follows sudden loss. A GoFundMe organized by Shaena says the family is trying to honor his memory while managing unexpected medical bills and funeral costs.

The fundraiser describes Josiah as an “amazing brother, son, nephew, and all-around young man” who brought “light and joy” to the lives of those around him. It also says his absence has left a hole in their hearts that can never be filled.

The response has been massive. At the time of publication, the page had raised $23,845, reaching 367% of its original $6,500 goal, with 400 donations.

That kind of support says a lot, even without many words. People saw this story, and they felt it.

The Bigger Conversation No One Can Ignore

As the community mourns, mental health advocates are also speaking to the painful reality behind cases like this. In the same News 9 report, Susan Stearns, executive director of NAMI New Hampshire, urged families and friends to pay close attention to warning signs in young people.

She said, “Grief is a part of life, and it’s hard and it’s painful, but that’s why we look to each other for support.” She also stressed that trusted adults are there to help children navigate emotions that may feel too big to carry alone.

Susan added that adults should not assume a middle schooler fully understands what they are going through or how to express it. Instead, she encouraged calm, direct conversations that make room for honesty.

And when it comes to suicide risk, she was especially clear. “If you are concerned that someone might be considering suicide, then you want to ask that directly,” she said, pushing back on the myth that asking the question somehow puts the idea into someone’s head.

The Story That Will Stay With People

There is no neat ending here. A 13-year-old boy is gone, a family is shattered, and the details shared by those closest to him have turned this into more than a local tragedy.

Josiah’s story now sits at the center of questions about bullying, grief, mental health, and what happens when a child’s pain is not fully seen. And that is the part people may have the hardest time forgetting.

Unfortunately, adult mental struggles are often not noticed until it’s too late as well. As previously reported, a woman and her 11-year-old daughter found dead in a reported murder-suicide at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas were identified as Tawnia McGeehan, 34, of West Jordan, Utah, and her daughter, Addilyn Smith.

But as heartbreaking as the discovery was, court documents now suggest that trouble may have been lurking in their family life for a long time, particularly relating to Addilyn’s father and his attitude toward their daughter.

A Custody Battle Years In The Making

According to the Clark County Coroner’s Office, Tawnia’s death has officially been ruled a suicide. But authorities were still awaiting official rulings on Addilyn’s cause and manner of death as of February 17, 2026.

Although the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate, legal documents have revealed a deeper consideration in their case.

These newly reviewed court records outline a custody fight between Tawnia and Addilyn’s father, Bradley Smith, that stretched back more than a decade.

The pair’s divorce proceedings began in 2015, and a decree was finalized in 2017 in Utah’s 4th District Court. What followed were years of filings, motions, and heated disputes over parent-time and custody arrangements.

In May 2024, a judge updated the divorce decree to grant both parents equal responsibility and time with their child. The new arrangement established joint legal and physical custody, requiring the child to switch homes every other week.

On paper, the order appeared structured and clear.

Exchanges took place at the child’s school during the academic year, shifting to the Herriman Police Department during breaks.

Furthermore, to keep the process orderly, the court required the parents to park at least five spaces away from each other. The order also strictly forbade both parties from filming their daughter during these times.

There was even a provision allowing one parent to keep Addilyn overnight if the other failed to pick her up from school during scheduled parent-time. This level of detail hinted at a relationship strained far beyond the ordinary.

And that was only the latest chapter.

Earlier Rulings Raised Serious Concerns

Digging further into the records reveals an even more contentious period.

In December 2020, after a temporary order hearing, the court granted Bradley sole physical custody on a temporary basis. The judge determined that changing custody was in Addilyn’s best interest at the time.

The court expressed significant worry regarding Tawnia’s actions, noting that her conduct mirrored patterns of parental alienation.

Furthermore, the judge found that she had committed domestic violence while the child was nearby. Ultimately, the ruling cast serious doubt on her capacity to cooperate effectively as a parent.

The court even mandated that a third party oversee her visitation sessions, requiring her to cover all associated costs.

In May 2020, several months prior, the court commanded Tawnia to attend a hearing to justify why the judge should not hold her in contempt.

This legal notice stemmed from allegations that she had refused to provide scheduled visitation and failed to cover insurance premiums. The court explicitly cautioned her that these violations could result in penalties, such as a 30-day jail sentence.

To sum up, the legal documents show a long history of requests to change custody and a move from Salt Lake County to Utah County in early 2015. All of these filings paint a clear picture of a years-long fight over Addilyn.

Yet the courtroom battles were only part of what was unfolding.

Alarming Allegations Surface Online

In the days following the tragedy, a Facebook page called Vacationland Mama shared troubling screenshots that allegedly came from Tawnia’s now-private Instagram account.

The posts appear to show text messages sent by Bradley.

One message, uploaded on February 22, 2018, read, “I’ve told you easily 4 [expletive] times now that she’s going to daycare you stupid [expletive] [expletive].” Another stated, “You are one jealous fat ugly stupid [expletive] of a [expletive].”

According to Tawnia, she had simply asked whether their daughter was already at daycare and suggested that her own mother could watch Addilyn if not. The response was seemingly that explosive.

But the texts were not the only claims shared online.

In another lengthy post, Tawnia allegedly wrote, “I need advice I have no idea what to do since I am terrified of Brad.”

She went on to describe several supposed incidents involving Addilyn during visits with her father and his girlfriend. According to the post, Addilyn had begun seeing a therapist and had disclosed troubling experiences.

“The things Addi has been telling me in the last two weeks is awful,” Tawnia wrote, explaining that her daughter said she was restricted from eating pizza at a birthday party and was only allowed chocolate.

She also claimed that Addilyn had not been properly bathed and had developed rashes. Even more disturbing were allegations that her daughter had been told not to tell her about things that happened at her father’s house.

Tawnia wrote that the therapist had advised her to contact Child Protective Services. Still, she admitted to being afraid of retaliation. “I just can’t make up my mind on calling CPS,” she wrote.