Two suspects, Jordan R. Willis and Ivory ‘Blade’ Carson, are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for the first time in a crucial test to determine if there’s enough evidence to try them for murder in the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans, who died from fentanyl and cocaine toxicity in January 2024. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the cold-weather discovery of the bodies and the potential for felony murder charges.
Willis and Carson, who are facing amended second-degree felony-murder charges, are set to appear before the Platte County Circuit Court at 10 a.m. EST. Prosecutors allege that the two supplied drugs that led to the fatal overdoses of Ricky Johnson, 38; David Harrington, 37; and Clayton McGeeney, 36. The victims were found dead in Willis’s backyard, where they had gathered to watch a Chiefs game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The discovery of the bodies, which were found in sub-freezing temperatures, shocked the local community. A forensic examination revealed that all three victims died from a combination of fentanyl and cocaine toxicity. This has led to the state’s pursuit of murder charges under Missouri’s felony murder rule, which holds that individuals can be charged with murder if they supply a drug that results in a fatal overdose.
Willis and Carson have both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court hearing on Thursday will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Willis is currently out on bond, while Carson remains in custody. Both are expected to appear in person. The case has also raised questions about the role of drug suppliers in such tragedies, with prosecutors emphasizing the need for stricter charges to hold those behind the drug supply chain accountable.
McGeeney’s fiancée, April Mahoney, discovered the bodies on January 9, 2024, after becoming concerned that her fiancé had not returned home from the gathering at Willis’s rental property. The group had gathered on January 7 to watch the Chiefs play against the Chargers. Mahoney initially went to check on McGeeney, eventually climbing through a basement window to find the bodies on the back patio of the home.
Police found a bag of white powdery substance on an end table and another on top of the entertainment center in the living room. Court documents detail that Willis told police he believed the three victims had left his home around 4 a.m. on January 8, but his attorney, John Picerno, previously stated that his client went to sleep while the group was still awake and socializing. Picerno also noted that Willis was sleeping with earbuds and a fan on, making it difficult to detect the group’s activities.
Two unidentified witnesses, who were present at the football watch party, testified that they drank, smoked marijuana, and used cocaine. One of the witnesses said he left shortly before midnight on January 8, while another reported that before arriving at Willis’s home, he saw a large plate of cocaine allegedly supplied by Willis at Harrington’s home. Court records indicate that Carson, who goes by ‘Blade Brown,’ allegedly supplied and sold cocaine to Willis and the victims, with his DNA found on a bag of fentanyl.
Chief Stacey Graves of the Kansas City Police Department praised the detectives’ persistence, noting that the investigation took 14 months before charges were filed. ‘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,’ she said.