High-profile trial approaches for Chiefs fans’ deaths in backyard

NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A high-profile and deeply tragic case involving the deaths of three Chiefs fans in the backyard of their friend’s home is now heading to trial.

Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson are both facing five felony charges, including three counts of murder. They appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, July 24.

The state worked to prove probable cause that the two men should stand trial in connection with the deaths of Ricky Johnson, Clayton McGeeney and David Harrington.

While the standard of proof in a preliminary hearing is significantly lower than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” requirement at trial, both defendants remain adamant; they’re confident they’ll beat these charges.

“Yes,” Willis said when asked if he was confident in his case while leaving the courthouse Thursday.

Despite not offering further explanation, Willis’s confidence was clear, even as questions swirl about how the bodies of three men were left in his backyard for days.

Jordan Willis is still not commenting on how he could have been unaware that his friends Ricky Johnson, Clayton McGeeney and David Harrington were dead in his backyard. However, we’re now getting a clearer picture of what happened and what was going through his mind.

In an interview Willis gave to the police while they were still searching his home and removing the bodies, he claimed he had no idea who was in his backyard, saying he thought his friends had left. Then, he realized it was his friends who were dead.

Unprompted, Willis brought up the possibility that the men may have gotten into fentanyl. According to the medical examiner, the men died from a combination of fentanyl and cocaine.

While the recorded interview may raise questions, defense attorneys argue that the state’s case is far from airtight.

“I was expecting to hear some hard evidence – direct evidence of either of these guys disturbing the drugs or handing drugs to the three deceased people,” John Picerno, the Lawyer for Jordan Willis, said.

There is DNA evidence on the bags from Willis and Carson, but text messages between the men about buying cocaine from Carson date back more than a month before the three victims died.

The state alleges that Willis previously bought drugs for the men, but no direct link was presented tying either defendant to the specific drugs used that night, other than DNA. The drug baggies contained DNA from multiple people, not just Willis and Carson, though.

Both defense teams left the court emboldened on Tuesday.