A year after three Kansas City Chiefs fans were last seen alive, it’s still unclear why they died in their friend’s snowy backyard — and authorities have not filed any criminal charges in their deaths.
Clayton McGeeney, 37; Ricky Johnson, 38; and David Harrington, 36, visited the Kansas City home of longtime friend Jordan Willis on Jan. 7, 2024, to watch the Chiefs play the Los Angeles Chargers.
Two days later, the three men were found dead on the Willis property by McGeeney’s fiancee. Willis could not be reached phoned and didn’t answer his door in the days afterward, according to family members who searched for the three friends who never returned home.
Although preliminary autopsy results that family members have shared with the media indicate that fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana were in their systems, the families of the deceased men have questioned Willis’ involvement in what happened, and some have threatened to file lawsuits.
In September, Willis’ attorney, John Picerno, told Fox News Digital that “the allegations [will be] to be released in the next few weeks,” based on “internal conversations” with prosecutors.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FAN DEATH: VICTIMS’ FAMILIES ARE ARGUING OVER ‘ANGRY’ SPECULATION, LAWYER SAYS
David Harrington, Clayton McGeeney and Ricky Johnson were found dead outside their friends’ home in Kansas City on January 9, 2024. (Ricky Johnson/Facebook)
“I can say with certainty that my client will not be charged in this regard,” Picerno said at the time. “My client will in no way be accused of having anything to do with the untimely deaths of his friends.”
When asked who would face criminal charges in the men’s deaths, Picerno said: “The criminal liability could be for a charge of aggravated murder if someone supplied these young men with drugs.”
But Picerno and lawyers for the men’s family members said there has been no progress since then.
Fox News Digital previously reported that a fifth man was at Willis’ home on Northwest 83rd Terrace on Jan. 7 — but that man said fox 4 that he left while the men were still watching the game, and he pointed out that he was not the last person to see them alive.
That the fifth man’s lawyer Fox News Digital could not be reached for comment.
DEATH OF KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FAN: FEUDING FAMILIES THREATEN LAWSUITS AGAINST EACH OTHER
An exterior view of Jordan Willis’ home in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, January 26, 2024. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
Picerno said in September that the length of the investigation, which the Kansas City Police Department has repeatedly characterized as a death investigation rather than a homicide investigation, was “definitely unusual.”
He also said his client voluntarily surrendered all of his electronic devices to police at the start of the investigation, along with DNA samples.
“I don’t know why this investigation continued [more than] nine months,” Picerno said. “That would be a better question for prosecutors to answer.”
“There is nothing to report or comment at this time,” a representative for the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office told Fox News Digital. “The investigation is still ongoing. I guess when something is done, [Platte County Prosecutor] Eric [Zahnd] will make a press release. Unfortunately, we do not have reporting deadlines.”
Kansas City police could not be reached for comment at press time.
Family and friends of Clayton McGeeney, left, David Harrington, center, and Ricky Johnson, right, are searching for answers after the three men inexplicably died in sub-zero temperatures outside their friend’s home in Kansas City. (Facebook)
Although he is “confident” his client will avoid prosecution, Picerno said in September that a civil suit was likely on the horizon. He said he was contacted by attorneys representing the men’s families and noted that the statute of limitations for these types of cases is five years in Missouri.
Jennifer Marquez, David Harrington’s mother, told Fox News Digital that this is “a first [she’s] heard” about the movement in the case. Until she hears further news from the prosecutor’s office, she said she will “hold [herself] peaceful and harbors no hopes.”
“Of course I’m extremely happy to hear that maybe something is happening,” she said on Tuesday.
“I wasn’t told anything,” she continued. “They just didn’t pass any information on to us, the families, so I don’t have anything as far as information. We didn’t get autopsies or that kind of information. They don’t want us to be able to release anything that would hurt the case, I guess.”
“Of course, I would like to see the people responsible for this and I believe Jordan should be responsible,” Marquez said. “It was his home, he had a party and, you know.”
For Willis, who moved out of his Kansas City home and entered a rehab program after his friends died, his “life changed forever,” Picerno said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
HIV scientist Jordan Willis, 38, checked into rehab after three of his friends were found dead in his backyard on January 9, 2024. (GitHub)
“It’s a terrible thing when people have already assumed you’re guilty without real evidence,” Picerno said. “It’s a tough conflict, and he’s dealing with it as best he can.”
A source close to the Willis family told Fox News Digital that the 39-year-old Dr. sc. holder and research scientist “is still struggling with the consequences of all this”.
“[He] not only did he lose his good friends, but [had] a lot of people are turning against him,” the source said.
“It’s affected every part of his life, and he’s doing the best he can,” the source continued. “He’s been helping with his father’s care this year and trying to stay positive.”
