It's been a year since three Kansas City Chiefs fans were last seen alive, and it's still unclear why they died in a friend's snowy backyard, and authorities say they No criminal charges have been filed in the death.
Clayton McGeeney, 37 years old. Ricky Johnson, 38 years old. and David Harrington, 36, visited longtime friend Jordan Willis' home in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 7, 2024, to watch the Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers game.
Two days later, the three were found dead on Willis' property by McGeeney's fiance. Family members who searched for the three friends who did not return said they could not reach Willis by phone and did not answer the door for several days.
Preliminary autopsy results, shared with the media by his family, indicate he had fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in his system, but the deceased man's family has questioned Willis' involvement in the incident. Some have threatened to sue.
In September, Willis' attorney John Picerno told Fox News Digital: [will be] An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, based on “internal conversations” with prosecutors.
“I can say with confidence that my client will not be charged in that regard,” Picerno said at the time. “My client will not be charged in any way in connection with his friend's untimely death.”
Asked who would be held criminally responsible for the men's deaths, Picerno said, “If someone provided drugs to these young people, the criminal liability could be a felony murder charge.” .
But lawyers for Picerno and the man's family said there had 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, saying: fox 4 He said he left while the men were still watching the game and stressed that he was not the last to see them alive.
that 5th man's lawyer Fox News Digital could not be reached for comment.
Picerno said in September that the length of the investigation, which Kansas City police have repeatedly characterized as a death investigation rather than a homicide investigation, was “clearly unusual.”
What you need to know about the three Kansas City Chiefs fans who froze to death outside a friend's house
On January 9, three Kansas City Chiefs fans were found frozen to death in the backyard of a friend's house where they had gathered to watch a football game.
The bodies of David Harrington, 37, Ricky Johnson, 38, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, may have been there for two days.
Jordan Willis, who was renting the house, claimed he had “no knowledge” of the fate of his friends.
Mr Willis' lawyer said the man had been “sleeping on the couch” for two days while his friend's loved ones desperately tried to contact him.
“This case is 100% not being investigated as a homicide,” Kansas City Police Department Lt. Jake Becchina told Fox News Digital.
Here are more details from the Post's coverage of the Kansas City tragedy.
He also said his client voluntarily handed over all of his electronic devices to police early in the investigation, along with DNA samples.
“I don't know what caused this investigation to take so long.” [more than] Nine months,” Picerno said. “That would be a question better answered by prosecutors.”
A representative for the Platte County Prosecutor's Office told Fox News Digital: “We have nothing to report or comment at this time.” “It’s still under investigation. When something is over; [Platte County Prosecutor] Eric [Zahnd] We are planning to issue a press release. Unfortunately, there is no schedule to report. ”
Kansas City police had no comment at press time.
Mr Picerno said he was “confident” his client would avoid criminal prosecution, but that he would likely consider civil action in September. He said he has been contacted by an attorney representing the man's family, who said the statute of limitations for this type of lawsuit in Missouri is five years.
David Harrington's mother, Jennifer Marquez, told Fox News Digital that this was “a first.” [she’s] I heard movement inside the case. She said she would “leave it alone” until she hears more news from the prosecutor's office. [herself] Stay calm and have no expectations. ”
“Obviously I'm very happy to hear that something might be going on,” she said Tuesday.
“Nothing has been said,” she continued. “But I don't know anything about the information because they haven't given any information to our family. We haven't gotten an autopsy or any information like that. I don't think they want anything released that could have a negative impact on the case.”
“Of course I want to see people held accountable for this, and I believe Jordan should be held accountable as well,” Marquez said. “It was his house, and he was having a party, and you know…”
Willis, who moved out of her Kansas City home and enrolled in a rehabilitation program after her friend's death, “has changed her life forever,” Picerno said.
“It's terrible that people are already assuming you're guilty without any real evidence,” Picerno said. “It's tough to struggle with, but he's dealing with it the best he can.”
A source close to the Willis family told FOX News Digital that the 39-year-old Ph.D. is close to the Willis family. The owner and research scientist is “still grappling with the aftermath of all this.”
“[He] Not only did I lose my best friend; [had] A lot of people are against him,” the source said.
“It has affected every part of his life, but he is doing the best he can,” the source continued. “He's been helping take care of his father this year and trying to stay positive.”
