2 men plead not guilty in drug overdose deaths of 3 Kansas City Chiefs fans after game

PLATTE CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Two men, Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson, pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the drug overdose deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans. The fans were found dead in a backyard two days after gathering to watch the final game of the 2024 regular season. Both men appeared separately via video from jail, wearing orange jumpsuits. They face three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

Willis' attorney, John Picerno, entered the not guilty plea on his client's behalf, while the judge entered the plea for Carson, who is seeking a public defender. The brief hearing resulted in the next court date being set for Tuesday to determine if bail should remain at $100,000 cash only.

Speculation arose around the circumstances after the bodies of Ricky Johnson, 36, Clayton McGeeney, 37, and David Harrington, 38, were discovered in Willis' backyard on January 9. The day before, witnesses reported that the friends used cocaine while watching the Kansas City Chiefs play. This incident attracted attention on social media, as family members of the victims expressed their frustrations with local media regarding the investigation's timeline.

The eventual charges confirmed suspicions that the trio had died from a combination of fentanyl and cocaine. According to the probable cause statement, Willis suggested the men might have unknowingly obtained fentanyl after the group left his home in the early morning hours following the game. Reports indicate that the low temperature that night was around 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

Carson, during police interviews, admitted to selling cocaine to the victims prior to their deaths. However, Picerno argued that there is no evidence to suggest that Willis provided the drugs that led to his friends' deaths and emphasized that Willis was unaware of the situation until the police arrived. He described the past year as incredibly difficult for Willis, who has lost his job, home, and friends, while facing public scrutiny.