A year to the day 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 their old friend Jordan Willis' house in Kansas City on Jan. 7, 2024, to watch the Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Two days later, the three men were found dead on Willis' property by McGeeney's fiancée. Willis could not be reached on the phone and did not answer his door in the following days, according to family members who searched for the three friends who never returned home.
Although Initial autopsy results Reports that family members have shared with the media indicate the presence of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in their systems, and families of the dead 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 “charges (will be filed) in the next few weeks,” based on “internal conversations” with prosecutors.
David Harrington, Clayton McGeeney and Ricky Johnson were found dead outside their friend's home in Kansas City on January 9, 2024. (Ricky Johnson/Facebook)
“I can confidently say that my client will not be charged in this regard,” Picerno said at the time. “My client will not be accused in any way of being involved in the sudden death of his friends.”
When asked who would face criminal charges in the men's deaths, Picerno responded: “Criminal liability could be a murder charge if someone supplied these young men with drugs.”
But Picerno and attorneys for the men's family members said there have been no developments since then.
Fox News Digital previously reported that a fifth man was at Willis' home on Northwest 83rd Terrace on January 7 — but this man said Fox 4 He left while the men were still watching the match, and maintained that he was not the last to see them alive.
Which The fifth man's lawyer Fox News Digital could not be reached for comment.
Kansas City Chiefs Death of Fans: Families at odds 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)
The length of the investigation, which the Kansas City Police Department has repeatedly described as a death investigation rather than a homicide investigation, was “definitely out of the ordinary,” Picerno said in September.
He also said his client voluntarily turned over all of his electronic devices to police early in the investigation, along with DNA samples.
“I don’t know why this investigation has lasted (more than) nine months,” Picerno said. “That would be a better question for prosecutors to answer.”
A representative for the Platte County Prosecutor's Office told Fox News Digital: “There is nothing to report or comment on at this time.” “The investigation is still ongoing. I assume that when something is done, (Platte County District Attorney) Eric (Zahned) will issue a press release. We don't have a timeline for reporting, unfortunately.”
The Kansas City Police Department could not be reached for comment at press time.
Family and friends of Clayton McGeeney, left, David Harrington, center, and Ricky Johnson, right, are demanding answers after the three men died inexplicably in below-freezing temperatures outside their friend's home in Kansas City. (Facebook)
Although he is “confident” that his client will avoid criminal prosecution, Picerno said in September that a civil lawsuit was likely on his horizon. He said he was contacted by attorneys representing the men's families who pointed out that the statute of limitations on this type of case is five years in Missouri.
Jennifer Marquez, David Harrington's mother, told Fox News Digital that this is the “first she's heard” of movement in the case. She said that until she hears more news from the district attorney's office, she will “keep calm and not get any hopes up.”
“Of course I'm very happy to hear that there might be something going on,” she said Tuesday.
“I wasn’t told anything,” she continued. “They haven't passed on any information to us, the families, so I don't have any information regarding that. We haven't gotten the autopsies or any information like that. They don't want us to be able to reveal anything.” “I think that would hurt the case.”
“Of course I would like to see people responsible for this and I think Jordan should be held responsible,” Marquez said. “It was his house, and he had the party, you know.”
Willis, who moved from his Kansas City home and entered a rehabilitation program after his friends died, “has had his life changed forever,” Picerno said.
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HIV scientist Jordan Willis, 38, checked himself into a rehab facility after his three friends were found dead in his backyard on January 9, 2024. (github)
“It's terrible that people actually assume you're guilty without real evidence,” Picerno said. “It's a tough fight, and he's managing it the best he can.”
A source close to Willis' family told Fox News Digital that the 39-year-old Ph.D. Holder and the research scientist are “still reeling from the consequences of all this.”
“(He) not only lost good friends, but a lot of people turned on him,” the source said.
“It has affected every part of his life, and he is doing the best he can,” the source continued. “He's been helping take care of his dad this year, trying to stay positive.”
