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“Jordan’s defense to these three lawsuits is the same as his defense to the criminal charges — that he had nothing to do with their deaths,” Picerno said. “We’re just looking forward to a trial where we can get all the facts out in front of a jury.”

“Jordan denies the allegations in these lawsuits and is looking forward to a trial based on what actually happened as opposed to wild speculation,” Picerno said in a message to The Star Monday

“Jordan maintains that he is not responsible for purchasing or supplying the drugs that led to the deaths of his three friends. We are very much looking forward to the day a jury gets to hear all of the evidence in this case.”

"I mean, she's traumatized," John Picerno, a Kansas City lawyer who represented Mitchell in the case, said. "That’s not an over exaggeration."

Since the investigation’s onset, Picerno has been vocal that Willis knew nothing about the men’s deaths.

"It's an awful thing when people have already presumed you're guilty without real evidence," Picerno said. "It's a tough row to hoe, and he's managing it as best he can."

Newton shot and killed two others and injured in another shooting on June 9, 2023. Newton was driving near East 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard when he saw a person on the driver’s side of a truck point a firearm out of the window toward a white van and drove off.

“(Newton) is still employed there, so sadly it’s another example of KCPD failing to impose any type of significant sanctions against their own employees who act outside the law, in our opinion,” Picerno said.

“I think its important any time a lawsuit is settled with law enforcement. Somebody has to police the police and apparently its not KCPD who is going to police their own employees,” Picerno said.

“My client is still living under a cloud of suspicion,” Picerno said. “The general public believes he is responsible for their deaths, and that’s simply not true. I knew it initially and... I think prosecutors know that as well and so it’s kind of frustrating that they won’t come out publicly and state that.”