Kansas City Chiefs Fans Face Trial for Friends’ Deaths in Freezing Backyard

Two Kansas City Chiefs enthusiasts appeared in court amid serious charges related to the death of three friends, who were found frozen in a backyard. The defendants, Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson, showed no emotion as they faced a judge and entered a plea to charges of second-degree murder.

The victims—Ricky Johnson Jr., David Harrington, and Clayton McGeeney—were discovered in Willis’ rental home yard on January 9, 2024. Toxicology reports indicated they died from a combination of fentanyl and cocaine overdose.

Prosecutors allege Willis was involved in distributing the drugs, with evidence including drugs found during a search of his residence—primarily a cocaine bag with Willis’ DNA and a fentanyl bag linked to Carson. Messages linked to Carson reportedly showed an intent to supply cocaine to Harrington.

At their hearing, Willis, who had been released on bail, sat dressed casually, staring ahead, while Carson remained in jail wearing an orange jumpsuit. Both men kept silent throughout the proceedings. The judge has ordered the case to proceed to a jury trial after determining sufficient evidence exists against them.

The background to the tragedy involves the friends gathering at a house in the suburbs, where they engaged in drinking, marijuana, and cocaine use on January 7. Afterward, they moved outside, where they overdosed and ultimately died in the cold temperatures. They were only discovered when McGeeney’s fiancée entered the home two days later after he failed to respond to her.

The court case is set to continue on August 6, with Willis and Carson facing further legal proceedings related to drug distribution and manslaughter charges, which prosecutors have escalated to murder.