Two arrested over deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who froze to death in scientist’s friend’s back yard

Authorities have announced a major breakthrough in the case of the three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found frozen to death in their friend’s backyard more than one year after the shocking discovery. 

Kansas City police said Wednesday they have charged two men in connection with the mysterious deaths – including the scientist friend who owned the home where he, Ricky Johnson, 38, David Harrington, 37, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, were watching a game on January 7, 2024.

Jordan Willis, 39, and Ivory J. Carson, 42, are now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance except 25 grams or less or marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, the Kansas City Star reports. 

‘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 Police Department announced.

It claims that Carson – who went by the nickname ‘Blade Brown’ supplied and sold cocaine to Willis and the victims. His DNA was later found on a bag of fentanyl inside Willis’ home, police said.

They said they spoke to a witness who told investigators he had been at Harrington’s home earlier in the night, and saw a ‘plate of cocaine allegedly supplied by Willis that everyone was using,’ Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Another witness reportedly told police he was with Willis, McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson at Willis’ home following the Chiefs game ‘where they drank, smoked marijuana and used cocaine.’

That witness said Harrington, McGeeney and Jonson were still alive as of 1.30am, while Willis had gone to bed, according to KSN.

But for nearly two days afterward, friends and family members said they did not hear from Harrington, Johnson and McGeeney as they repeatedly messaged Willis on social media begging for answers.

Eventually, on January 9, McGeeney’s fiancée decided to break into Willis’ basement when the scientist did not answer the front door.

She called police when she noticed a body on Willis’ back porch. Officers then found the other two corpses.

When he was then questioned by police, Willis said he went to bed and did not know his friends were still in the backyard.

He also said he did not see messages from his missing friends’ loved ones until police showed up at his house because he was sleeping with headphones on. 

As the investigation into the mysterious deaths continued, a toxicology report determined that the three men had cocaine, THC and fentanyl in their systems, and on Wednesday police declared that they died of ‘fentanyl and cocaine toxicity.’

Police later found text messages on Harrington’s phone between the suspects, McGeeney, Johnson and others that they said proved that Carson supplied them with cocaine.

Those messages also allegedly confirmed one witness’s account that when the group was low on cash, McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson would supply them with cocaine, according to court documents obtained by the Star.

Carson ultimately admitted to selling cocaine by the gram to the trio in police interviews in July 2024 and just last month, court documents say. 

‘This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of street drugs,’ Zahnd said at the news conference. 

‘But make no mistake, the people that supply those drugs can and will be held accountable when people overdose.’ 

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.