The grieving families of three Chiefs fans found frozen to death outside of their friend’s home say they’ve been stonewalled by officials, who after six months have yet to tell them how their loved ones died.
David Harrington, 37, Ricky Johnson, 38, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, were found dead in the backyard of their pal Jordan Willis’s Kansas City, Missouri home in January after watching a game together.
While a toxicology report revealed that the three men had a mix of fentanyl, cocaine and THC in their systems, their families have still never been told an official cause of death after nearly six months — although the medical examiner confirmed their probe concluded on Jan. 31, Fox 4 reported.
“Our office finalized cause and manners of death for all three of the referenced decedents,” the examiner’s office told the outlet on Monday. “All three cases are under suppression status and not open records available for release at this time.”
As authorities continue to investigate the deaths, a lawyer close to the families told FOX4 he believes criminal charges may never come due to the length of time that has passed and the lack of communication between police and Platte County prosecutors.
Family members said they feel they are being ignored and have not received any updates from the prosecutor’s office beyond confirmation that the deaths are not being investigated as a homicide.
“My nephew died a tragic death along with two of his friends and nobody is being held accountable,” Jim McGeeney, the uncle of Clayton McGeeney said.
“If your car blew up right now what happened, well, they’re going to find out what happened,” he continued. “If a plane crashes, what are they going to do: get the black box, they can find out what happened. But with this, three dead men, they don’t do anything, it appears they don’t do anything and if they are, let us know.”
The medical examiner’s reports were what had been holding up the investigation, according to Fox 4, which families just learned have been completed for months.
“Through this whole thing I’ve had a hard time getting anybody to answer me,” Jennifer Marquez, Harrington’s mother, said.
Johnson, Harrington, McGeeney, 36, and another friend — who has not been identified — Willis’ rental home to watch the Chiefs’ final regular season game against the Chargers on Jan 7.
All were avid fans of the team, regularly hung out together and had been pals for years.
For two days, families of the victims tried frantically to contact Willis with phone calls, Facebook messages and even knocking on his door but received no response.
McGeeney’s fiancée, April Mahoney, finally broke into Willis’ house on the night of Jan. 9 and discovered a body on the back porch. She called police to request a welfare check, leading to the discovery of two more frozen bodies in the yard.
Willis met responding police officers in his shorts and holding an empty wine glass, according to the victims’ relatives. He claimed he did not leave his home for two days as he slept with noise-canceling headphones.
Willis, an HIV scientist, checked himself into rehab for substance abuse after his friends were found dead. He also moved out of the home.