Two men face drug distribution and manslaughter charges in the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans whose bodies were discovered on Jan. 9, 2024 outside a Platte County home. Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson are each charged with distribution of a controlled substance and three counts of involuntary manslaughter.
“Some people seemed to believe charges would never be brought in this case, perhaps because the investigation has spanned more than a year,” said Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd. “Understand this: The Kansas City Police Department and my office do not rest on homicide cases until we have exhausted every possible resource to bring anyone we believe responsible to justice. Today’s charges are the product of the hard work of Kansas City detectives and prosecutors over many months.”
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said, “Though we often want answers immediately, great police work takes time. Our detectives never stopped working on this case, waiting for all the facts to come in. Today is a testament to their dedication, reflecting KCPD’s devotion to Kansas City.”
Clayton McGeeney, David Harrington, and Ricky Johnson were found dead outside Willis’ home in the 5200 block of Northwest 83rd Terrace in the Platte County portion of Kansas City on Jan. 9.
According to court documents, McGeeney’s fiancé told police that McGeeney, Harrington, and Johnson had gone to Willis’ home to watch the Kansas City Chiefs football game on Jan. 7. When she could not contact McGeeney, she went to the home on Jan. 9 and found at least one person dead on the back patio. Temperatures dipped below freezing the night of the Chiefs game.
Officers with the Kansas City Police Department responded and found McGeeney, Harrington, and Johnson’s bodies in the backyard of the home.
Detectives then obtained consent to search the home. They found two plastic bags containing white powdery substances. The bags were tested by the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory. One of the bags contained cocaine, and court documents state that Willis was allegedly determined to be a major contributor of DNA found on that bag. The other bag contained fentanyl, and court documents state that Carson was allegedly determined to be a major contributor of the DNA on that bag.
A witness said he was at Harrington’s home with Harrington, McGeeney, Johnson and Willis the night of the football game, where he saw a large plate of cocaine allegedly supplied by Willis they were using. The witness said McGeeney, Harrington, and Johnson were going to Willis’ home after the football game.
Another witness said he was with McGeeney, Harrington, Johnson, and Willis at Willis’ home on Jan. 7, where they drank, smoked marijuana, and used cocaine. That witness left shortly before midnight.
Data recovered from Harrington’s phone allegedly contained text messages between Harrington, McGeeney, Johnson, Willis, Carson, and others consistent with the purchase and use of cocaine. The messages allegedly indicated that Carson supplied Harrington with cocaine.
A doctor with Forensic Medical of Kansas found that McGeeney, Harrington, and Johnson all died of fentanyl and cocaine combined toxicity.
Willis and Carson are both charged with a single count of delivery of a controlled substance and three counts of involuntary manslaughter for recklessly causing the deaths of McGeeney, Harrington, and Johnson. Each of those charges carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years in prison.
Willis and Carson were booked into the Platte County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 cash bonds. While Carson remains behind bars, Willis posted the $100,000 bond on Friday, March 7 and is due back in court Tuesday, March 11. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Both Willis and Carson are also named in a civil wrongful death suit brought by the family of one of the victims.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of street drugs,” Zahnd said. “But make no mistake, the people who supply those drugs can and will be held accountable when people overdose.”
The case is being investigated by the Kansas City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Collin VanOstran.