Two Men Charged in Drug-Related Death of 3 Chiefs Fans at Party
Police Charge Two Men in Connection with Fatal Overdose of Three Friends
Police have charged two men, Ivory Carson and Jordan Wills, in connection with the death of three Kansas City Chiefs fans whose bodies were found following a watch party in January last year, authorities said Wednesday.
Arrest Warrant Details
According to an arrest warrant, both men face three counts each of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivering a controlled substance in relation to the deaths of Ricky Johnson, 38, Clayton McGeeney, 36, and David Harrington, 37, three friends since high school. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Autopsy Results
Police found the bodies in the backyard of a house on NW 83rd Terrace in the city on January 9, 2024. Autopsies revealed that all three men died of combined cocaine and fentanyl toxicity.
Probable Cause Statement
A probable cause statement accused the defendants of "recklessly causing the deaths."
Bond Information
Carson is already in custody in Platte County with a $100,000 case bond, while Willis has told police he will surrender to authorities and will post a $100,000 case bond.
Prosecutor’s Statement
"This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of street drugs," said Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd. "But make no mistake, the people who supply those drugs can and will be held accountable when people overdose."
Investigation Details
McGeeney’s fiance told police that the three men went to Jordan Willis’s house to watch the game on January 7. When she couldn’t contact McGeeney, she went to the house after spotting McGeeney’s pickup truck outside. No one came to the door, and the witness entered the house through a basement window. She found a body on the back patio and called police.
Timeline of Events
Police found a body on the back patio and called police. The temperatures dropped below freezing on the night of the game. Witnesses told police they saw the victims consuming drugs, including alcohol and marijuana, and text messages show that the men had agreed to be supplied with drugs. After obtaining a warrant to search the house, police found two plastic bags containing white powdery substances – testing revealed that one was cocaine and one was fentanyl.
Law Enforcement Response
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said, "This is a message to those who are bringing fentanyl into our communities, providing it to people, harming communities: you will be held accountable, you will be arrested and you will be charged."
Investigation Timeline
The investigation took 14 months to lead to charges, but authorities said they had not given up on the case. "It takes time to bring these cases, there were additional investigative things that needed to be wrapped up before this case could be brought," Zahnd said in response to a reporter’s question on the delay.
Family’s Statement
Stephanie Walling, Johnson’s niece, told NBC News last year that the family had no idea exactly how he had died. "It’s just really hard because I know his girls meant the world to him and he had really big plans for them," she said. "Now, he won’t get to follow through with those plans."
Conclusion
The case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of drug addiction and the devastating consequences of drug-related overdoses.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What charges have been filed against the two men?
- Three counts each of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivering a controlled substance
- What is the maximum sentence for each charge?
- 10 years in prison
- How long did the investigation take?
- 14 months
- What was the cause of death of the three men?
- Combined cocaine and fentanyl toxicity
