Two arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found frozen in their friend’s snowy Kansas City, Missouri, backyard after an NFL watch party more than a year ago.
“After an investigation of nearly 14 months, two suspects are now facing felony charges in Platte County, including involuntary manslaughter, related to the deaths of three Chiefs fans in January of 2024,” the Kansas City Missouri Police Department said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Jordan Willis and Ivory J. Carson have been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, according to court records obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital.
Court records indicate that Carson, who went by “Blade Brown,” supplied and sold cocaine to Willis and the victims, and that his DNA was found on a bag of fentanyl.
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“KCPD detectives never stopped working on the case, waiting for all the facts to come in. Reaching this point is a testament to their dedication to delivering justice for the victims and their loved ones,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said.
Willis is the longtime friend of Clayton McGeeney, 37; Ricky Johnson, 38; and David Harrington, 36, who were visiting his home in Kansas City on Jan. 7, 2024, to watch the Chiefs play 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 by phone and did not answer his door in the days afterward, according to family members who searched for the three friends who never returned home.
However, Willis told police he had no idea any of his friends were dead outside and that he hadn’t heard from any of their friends or family members.
Although preliminary autopsy results shared with the media by family members indicate that fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana were in their systems, the deceased men’s families have questioned Willis’ involvement in what happened, with some threatening to file lawsuits.
Willis’ attorney John Picerno previously told Fox News Digital that “charges [will be] forthcoming in the next few weeks,” based on “internal conversations” with prosecutors.
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“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 manner with having to do with the untimely death of his friends.”
When asked who would face criminal charges in the men’s deaths, Picerno replied, “The criminal liability could be for a felony murder charge if somebody provided those young men with drugs.”
Willis, who moved out of his Kansas City home and enrolled into a rehabilitation program after his friends’ deaths, has had his “life changed forever,” Picerno previously said.
A source close to the Willis family told Fox News Digital previously that the 39-year-old Ph.D. holder and research scientist “still struggles with the aftermath of all of this.”
“[He] not only lost good friends of his, but [had] many people turn on him,” the source said.
“It affected every part of his life, and he’s doing the best he can,” the source continued. “He has been helping with his dad’s care this year, and trying to stay positive.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Willis’ attorney for comment.
It was not immediately clear if Carson had retained a lawyer.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
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