The tragic case of the three Kansas City Chiefs fans found dead in a frozen backyard has taken a new legal turn, as the father of one of the victims has now filed a negligence lawsuit against both Jordan Willis, the homeowner and scientist who hosted the gathering, and Ivory Carson, the alleged drug dealer who supplied the cocaine.
David Harrington’s father is seeking $100,000 in damages, claiming that Willis and Carson’s actions—or inactions—led directly to his son’s death. This lawsuit follows the recent criminal charges against both men, who have been accused of involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance.
For over a year, the mysterious deaths of Harrington, 37; Ricky Johnson, 38; and Clayton McGeeney, 36 fueled speculation, as their bodies were not discovered until two days after they were last seen alive. The men had spent the night of January 7, 2024, watching the final regular-season game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, first at Harrington’s home and later at Willis’ residence.
According to prosecutors, the three men used cocaine that night—supplied by Carson and allegedly facilitated by Willis. Toxicology reports later confirmed that the victims died from fentanyl and cocaine toxicity.
Witnesses claim Willis was known for sharing cocaine with friends, especially when they were low on money. While Willis has denied knowingly providing fentanyl-laced drugs, investigators later found a bag of fentanyl inside his home—with Carson’s DNA on it.
Willis, a scientist specializing in HIV research, has insisted that he did not know his friends were still in his backyard after he went to bed. His attorney, John Picerno, argues that there is no direct evidence that Willis supplied the drugs that killed the men, nor that he knew they needed medical attention.
“It has been a very, very long year for Jordan,” Picerno stated. “He’s lost his job. He’s lost his home. He’s lost his friends. The public are pointing at him as someone who essentially killed them. And nothing could be further from the truth.”
But the victims’ families—and the authorities—aren’t convinced.
After the game, Willis, McGeeney, Harrington, and Johnson were seen drinking, smoking marijuana, and using cocaine at Willis’ home. By 1:30 a.m., witnesses say Willis went to bed, leaving his friends outside. But what happened next remains unclear.
Over the next two days, as loved ones desperately tried to reach the missing men, Willis ignored repeated messages and calls—claiming later that he had been sleeping with headphones on. By January 9, McGeeney’s fiancée, frantic for answers, broke into Willis’ basement. There, she saw a body on the back porch and immediately called police. Officers arrived to discover the frozen bodies of all three men.
