MO - Furious Friends Demand Answers After 3 Men Found Dead at Kansas City Home Days After Watching Football Game, January 2024 #4

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Surprised?
Both Willis & C.arter being charged? Not exactly (but not going into my reasoning ATM. More later.)

Somewhat surprised that two wrongful death cases have been filed.
Typically, atty's filing these types of actions are engagedby the loved ones of the deceased on a contingency basis, i.e., for providing legal services, attys's receive a specified percent of the $$$ amt of ct award or pre-trial settlement.

So if the only def't's in these two lawsuits are Willis & Carter, I wonder if either has deep pockets that could make it worthwhile for atty's to pursue.
At least for more than the nuisance value.

I may be over looking something. If so, maybe this post seems cynical.

Just imo, moo, jmo.

______________________________________________________________________
"Second wrongful death lawsuit filed"
"... Nancy Bossert claims her son, Clayton McGeeney, died on Jan. 7, 2024, after being exposed to drugs while visiting the home of defendant Jordan Willis.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, March 14, in Platte County, also names Ivory Carson as a defendant...."On March 7, the father of David Harrington filed a similar lawsuit in Platte County."*
www.kmbc.com

Second wrongful death lawsuit filed over Chiefs fans' overdose deaths

A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found in the backyard of a home.
www.kmbc.com www.kmbc.com
 
al66pine said:
Surprised?
Both Willis & C.arter being charged? Not exactly (but not going into my reasoning ATM. More later.)

Somewhat surprised that two wrongful death cases have been filed.
Typically, atty's filing these types of actions are engagedby the loved ones of the deceased on a contingency basis, i.e., for providing legal services, attys's receive a specified percent of the $$$ amt of ct award or pre-trial settlement.

So if the only def't's in these two lawsuits are Willis & Carter, I wonder if either has deep pockets that could make it worthwhile for atty's to pursue.
At least for more than the nuisance value.

I may be over looking something. If so, maybe this post seems cynical.

Just imo, moo, jmo.

______________________________________________________________________
"Second wrongful death lawsuit filed"
"... Nancy Bossert claims her son, Clayton McGeeney, died on Jan. 7, 2024, after being exposed to drugs while visiting the home of defendant Jordan Willis.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, March 14, in Platte County, also names Ivory Carson as a defendant...."On March 7, the father of David Harrington filed a similar lawsuit in Platte County."*
www.kmbc.com

Second wrongful death lawsuit filed over Chiefs fans' overdose deaths

A second wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found in the backyard of a home.
www.kmbc.com www.kmbc.com
Click to expand...

BBM

Perhaps my questions would be answered by your future post about "not exactly" charging both men. Not sure....

It does surprise me a little that both men are criminally charged. And the charges seem to be the same for both at least in what I've read. IF (as some MSM stories have implied if not said outright) Carson supposedly sold directly to the 3 men in addition to selling to Willis, I'm not sure why Wills would be charged. I'm not sure why the men buying drugs from Carson would be his fault. The men weren't teenagers with Willis the only adult in the room. I don't think anyone except maybe the men's mothers think they never bought and used cocaine before that night.

So far as the civil suits go, the article you posted indicates the suits claim it's not only supplying the drug but failing to warn the 3 men about the dangers of fentanyl and failing to render aid to the men when they suffered ill effects. That would seem to suggest Carson was at the house when the drug was used, wouldn't it? Has that been suggested anywhere else? I mean if he wasn't there the dealer couldn't render aid, could he? Neither could anyone else not present though. Like any of us or like the families.

IMO the suits very well could be nuisance lawsuits so far as either defendant goes. Based on what they've repeatedly said in the past, the families might do that. Not sure what's in it for the attorneys if it's all on a contingency basis. Publicity? Or are they expecting one defendant will turn on the other? Or are they expecting a quick settlement? Or a sort of civil suit jury nullification: drugs are bad so even if the men charged didn't do what's required to be found liable in this civil suit, they will be found liable anyway to send a message?

Obviously I can't know but I would doubt either defendant has very deep pockets. It's been reported Willis hasn't been able to get a job since this happened. And he's only a few years post-Ph.D anyway. (And having a Ph.D hardly means he has assets.) I wouldn't think a "low rank" drug dealer would have lots of assets especially after mounting a defense to the criminal charges. (True for both men.) I guess the families are going after future earnings? Or perhaps an inheritance? I think we've been told Willis's father has dementia. That doesn't mean Willis would inherit though or that there's much of anything to inherit. Of course, the families might have a skewed idea about what constitutes deep pockets. I wouldn't think the attorneys would though.
MOO
 
Just for the detail, repeating this from my earlier March 6, 2025 post.

Redacted PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT for ARREST
of Jordan Willis & Ivory Carter.
dated Mar 5, 2025
is set forth in full, 2 pages,
in this Mar. 6, 2025 article.

www.fox4news.com

2 charged in Kansas City Chiefs fans' deaths 14 months after bodies found frozen in backyard

Two men have been arrested in connection to the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found frozen in the backyard of a home back in January 2024.
www.fox4news.com www.fox4news.com
 
al66pine said:
Just for the detail, repeating this from my earlier March 6, 2025 post.

Redacted PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT for ARREST
of Jordan Willis & Ivory Carter.
dated Mar 5, 2025
is set forth in full, 2 pages,
in this Mar. 6, 2025 article.

www.fox4news.com

2 charged in Kansas City Chiefs fans' deaths 14 months after bodies found frozen in backyard

Two men have been arrested in connection to the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found frozen in the backyard of a home back in January 2024.
www.fox4news.com www.fox4news.com
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'd not seen the PCA. But I'm more confused than ever. That document seems up say the football party was at Harrington's house. And the only evidence Willis bought cocaine for the men comes from the fiance (assume that's Witness #1) and Witness #2 (the 5th man?) who said if the men didn't have money and they often didn't, Willis bought drugs for them. Carter says he sold to Willis AND to the 3 men. Harrington's phone contents say he bought from Carter, not Willis. But Clayton McGeeney's fiance says he often got money from Willis because he was always broke. So he must have this time too.

Is all that right?
MOO
 
Why is Willis Criminally Charged ?

My thinking,,from ¶ 2, Probable Cause Stmt.,
Witness #1 said
McGeeney would "drink alcohol and use cocaine when he was with the guys."
When McG would get "low on money, Willis would usually supply cocaine to his friends." USUALLY?
McG and Johnson "did not have any money prior to the party."
(I think I typed that verbatim; can't C & P.)

In essence, allegation is that Willis paid for the drugs THIS TIME too. So crim chgs against Willis.

Not agreeing or disagreeing, just saying imo, ^the prosecution's theory.^
imo

__________________________________
"Jordan Willis and Ivory J. Carson have been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, according to court records..."
www.fox4news.com

2 charged in Kansas City Chiefs fans' deaths 14 months after bodies found frozen in backyard

Two men have been arrested in connection to the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found frozen in the backyard of a home back in January 2024.
www.fox4news.com www.fox4news.com
 
al66pine said:
Why is Willis Criminally Charged ?

My thinking,,from ¶ 2, Probable Cause Stmt.,
Witness #1 said
McGeeney would "drink alcohol and use cocaine when he was with the guys."
When McG would get "low on money, Willis would usually supply cocaine to his friends." USUALLY?
McG and Johnson "did not have any money prior to the party."
(I think I typed that verbatim; can't C & P.)

In essence, allegation is that Willis paid for the drugs THIS TIME too. So crim chgs against Willis.

Not agreeing or disagreeing, just saying imo, ^the prosecution's theory.^
imo

__________________________________
"Jordan Willis and Ivory J. Carson have been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid, according to court records..."
www.fox4news.com

2 charged in Kansas City Chiefs fans' deaths 14 months after bodies found frozen in backyard

Two men have been arrested in connection to the deaths of three Kansas City Chiefs fans who were found frozen in the backyard of a home back in January 2024.
www.fox4news.com www.fox4news.com
Click to expand...
So once a sponge, always a sponge? I guess. Somehow that doesn't seem to be evidence beyond a reasonable doubt he was a sponge THIS time especially since Carson says he sold to the 3 men. But if he was a moocher, Willis committed a crime. Also why is it assumed McG's fiance knew Johnson's financial situation? The PCA simply says "they knew" neither man had money.

I guess the fact that McG's fiance knew they'd drink and use drugs with Willis explains why no one looked for the men for two days. That's pretty much what we thought I guess.
MOO
 
The case against Carson seems pretty cut-and-dried. He's admitted to being a drug dealer and supplying the victims, and his DNA was found on the fentanyl.

On the other hand, the case against Willis seems weak. His DNA is apparently not on the fentanyl, only on the coke. And there doesn't even seem to be any direct evidence tying him to the purchase of the cocaine. Just others with no direct knowledge claiming that it must have been him, even though the others also were regular drug buyers. If I was on that jury, I would expect more than that to put away a man for manslaughter.

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I don't think treating someone as if they were a killer when they were just doing drugs with their pals is a good idea. It's one of those tough "War on Drugs" stances that sound good in a political debate and gets an ambitious DA's name in the papers, but as actual policy, I think it will be ineffective and lead to unintended consequences. (Like someone fleeing the scene rather than calling 911 when their friend ODs.)
 
At this point with what we know, I think that the case against Willis is being prosecuted because of the huge publicity of this case. It sounds like he was a user and not a dealer, even though he may have paid for the drugs used by the victims. This was a tragedy that several friends lost their lives but I don't see Willis as being responsible for what happened. Other than he and his friends were all taking a chance with using drugs that could potentially be laced with fentanyl, which we now know they were. They all took a chance and, tragically, the outcome was fatal.

I understand that some of the family members are filing civil lawsuits. They are grieving and want justice and filing a civil lawsuit is one way to try to achieve that in our culture/society here in the U.S.

I do think that Willis may have some deep pockets, due to the kind of work he did, contracts within the scientific community, IIRC. I feel for him, as he never intended to harm his friends and will have to live with this for the rest of his life. On the other hand, everyone knows that drugs today are often laced with fentanyl, or worse. They all took a risk. If they trusted the dealer, they put their lives in his hands, another risk. JMO.
 
Sundog said:
At this point with what we know, I think that the case against Willis is being prosecuted because of the huge publicity of this case. It sounds like he was a user and not a dealer, even though he may have paid for the drugs used by the victims. This was a tragedy that several friends lost their lives but I don't see Willis as being responsible for what happened. Other than he and his friends were all taking a chance with using drugs that could potentially be laced with fentanyl, which we now know they were. They all took a chance and, tragically, the outcome was fatal. I understand that some of the family members are filing civil lawsuits. They are grieving and want justice and filing a civil lawsuit is one way to try to achieve that in our culture/society here in the U.S. I do think that Willis may have some deep pockets, due to the kind of work he did, contracts within the scientific community, IIRC. I feel for him, as he never intended to harm his friends and will have to live with this for the rest of his life. On the other hand, everyone knows that drugs today are often laced with fentanyl, or worse. They all took a risk. If they trusted the dealer, they put their lives in his hands, another risk. JMO.
Click to expand...
Would Willis have had private contracts with well-paying entities or would the contracts have been with his former employer?
MOO
 
NCWatcher said:
Would Willis have had private contracts with well-paying entities or would the contracts have been with his former employer?
MOO
Click to expand...
I don't remember the details that I read about earlier on in this case, but it did sound to me like Willis had expertise in either tech or scientific research or something related, which would likely be highly compensated professionally. JMO, I don't recall all of the details of his employment/professional endeavors.
 
Civil Case: Failure to Warn & to Render Aid?
NCWatcher said:
BBM

Perhaps my questions would be answered by your future post about "not exactly" charging both men. Not sure....

It does surprise me a little that both men are criminally charged. And the charges seem to be the same for both at least in what I've read. IF (as some MSM stories have implied if not said outright) Carson supposedly sold directly to the 3 men in addition to selling to Willis, I'm not sure why Wills would be charged. I'm not sure why the men buying drugs from Carson would be his fault. The men weren't teenagers with Willis the only adult in the room. I don't think anyone except maybe the men's mothers think they never bought and used cocaine before that night.

So far as the civil suits go, the article you posted indicates the suits claim it's not only supplying the drug but failing to warn the 3 men about the dangers of fentanyl and failing to render aid to the men when they suffered ill effects. That would seem to suggest Carson was at the house when the drug was used, wouldn't it? Has that been suggested anywhere else? I mean if he wasn't there the dealer couldn't render aid, could he? Neither could anyone else not present though. Like any of us or like the families.

IMO the suits very well could be nuisance lawsuits so far as either defendant goes. Based on what they've repeatedly said in the past, the families might do that. Not sure what's in it for the attorneys if it's all on a contingency basis. Publicity? Or are they expecting one defendant will turn on the other? Or are they expecting a quick settlement? Or a sort of civil suit jury nullification: drugs are bad so even if the men charged didn't do what's required to be found liable in this civil suit, they will be found liable anyway to send a message?

Obviously I can't know but I would doubt either defendant has very deep pockets. It's been reported Willis hasn't been able to get a job since this happened. And he's only a few years post-Ph.D anyway. (And having a Ph.D hardly means he has assets.) I wouldn't think a "low rank" drug dealer would have lots of assets especially after mounting a defense to the criminal charges. (True for both men.) I guess the families are going after future earnings? Or perhaps an inheritance? I think we've been told Willis's father has dementia. That doesn't mean Willis would inherit though or that there's much of anything to inherit. Of course, the families might have a skewed idea about what constitutes deep pockets. I wouldn't think the attorneys would though.
MOO
Click to expand...
@NCWatcher
Failure to warn of Fen danger.
Well, I guess - if Willis and/or Carter knew Fen was in the drugs -
when providing the drugs to the three, they could have disclosed it orally to all three and provided info in writing, something like this prescribing info when FDA approved Rx. (yes, kinda sarc here.)
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/019115s033lbl.pdf (20 pages).

If either def't had disclosed presence of Fen, maybe all three would have not have taken the drugs. That would have been a much happier ending. IDK.

Failure to render aid.
Seems that hinges on def't(s) being present at the time(s) & places of ingestion and the they began experiencing adverse effects.
Were they? IDK.

What a tragedy.
 
Sundog said:
Other than he and his friends were all taking a chance with using drugs that could potentially be laced with fentanyl, which we now know they were
Click to expand...
snipped.

Just to clarify something...reading the affidavit, the cocaine wasn't laced with fentanyl. Instead the police located two different drug baggies in the home, one cocaine and one fentanyl. It seems that the drug buyer(s) specifically acquired fentanyl for their personal use. Carson was evidently the supplier, but there's nothing in the affidavit that states who purchased the fentanyl.


On 01-09-2024, detectives entered 5208 NW 83rd Ter on a signed consent to search and located item #1, a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance, in the top drawer of an end table and item #2, a small plastic baggie containing a white residue, on top of the entertainment center in the living room in the northeast corner of the residence.
...
On 01-23-2024 it was reported Item #1 was analyzed by the Kansas City Regional Crime Lab and was found to contain Cocaine, weighing 2.8037 ÷ 0.0008 grams. Item #2 was analyzed by the Kansas City Regional Crime Lab and was found to contain Fentanyl.
 
Sundog said:
I don't remember the details that I read about earlier on in this case, but it did sound to me like Willis had expertise in either tech or scientific research or something related, which would likely be highly compensated professionally. JMO, I don't recall all of the details of his employment/professional endeavors.
Click to expand...
Thanks. It was my impression he'd lost his job since the deaths occurred as this link says Two friends charged in Kansas City Chiefs fans’ deaths also hit with wrongful death lawsuit
May not be true.

I was also under the impression (perhaps a wrong impression) that the kind of research he did would involve at least occasional use of a lab and/or access to non-public databases. So individual scientists weren't signing that sort of contract but employers were. According to this link
Who is Jordan Willis? Kansas City Chiefs fan linked to mystery deaths

"Willis, who has a Ph.D., is a senior principal scientist for the non-profit International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and works at its Neutralizing Antibody Center in La Jolla, California, and Kansas City,..."

MOO
 
Who Purchased the Fen?
ch_13 said:
snipped.

Just to clarify something...reading the affidavit, the cocaine wasn't laced with fentanyl. Instead the police located two different drug baggies in the home, one cocaine and one fentanyl. It seems that the drug buyer(s) specifically acquired fentanyl for their personal use. Carson was evidently the supplier, but there's nothing in the affidavit that states who purchased the fentanyl.


On 01-09-2024, detectives entered 5208 NW 83rd Ter on a signed consent to search and located item #1, a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance, in the top drawer of an end table and item #2, a small plastic baggie containing a white residue, on top of the entertainment center in the living room in the northeast corner of the residence.
...
On 01-23-2024 it was reported Item #1 was analyzed by the Kansas City Regional Crime Lab and was found to contain Cocaine, weighing 2.8037 ÷ 0.0008 grams. Item #2 was analyzed by the Kansas City Regional Crime Lab and was found to contain Fentanyl.
Click to expand...
@ch_13
Thx for your point about the cocaine & Fen being found in separate containers.
As ME's report concluded CoD was combined toxicity of the two, the two separate drugs could an important issue in the outcome.

From above: "Carson was evidently the supplier, but there's nothing in the affidavit that states who purchased the fentanyl."

And "purchased" meaning what? How does prosecutor prove it?
Imo, likely w some phone records. Calls and/or texts.

Who made initial contact w Carter to check availability?
And/or checked w others in group, to see what they wanted, how much $ ea had, to pay?
And/or made contact w Carter, to actually order & arrange for exchange/pick-up/delivery
And/or actually paid? Cash? Credit card, debit card, Paypal, Venmo, other online $ transfer

If there had been 4 contacts like ^ w Carter, conceivably ea. of the 4 men could have made one of the contacts. Yes, a bit of a stretch, well, a really looong stretch.
My point ^ is that Willis may or may not have made the "purchase"(s) ---in the sense of ordering the merch. It could have been one of now-deceased men who ordered.

Proving that Willis paid for either of the two drugs does not necessarily prove that he was aware that Fen was one of them. Or otherwise seriously shore up the case against him

For a conviction on the "delivery" of these controlled substances crim charge in MO,* it is not necessary to prove that a def't received consideration, money, goods, services, etc.
A person who secures drugs & hands them out for free like candy bars can be convicted on a delivery charge, iirc.
Welcoming comments & other interps.

_________________________________________________
* From my post #707 in this thread
Charge Code & Description
-579.020-004Y20223533.0 Deliver ControlledSubstance Except 35 Grams Or Less Of MarijuanaOr Synthetic Cannabinoid
- 579.020-004Y20223523.0 Deliver ControlledSubstance Except 35 Grams Or Less Of MarijuanaOr Synthetic Cannabinoid
 
Last edited:
25AE-CR00612 - ST V IVORY J CARSON (E-CASE)


04/16/2025

Hearing Scheduled

Scheduled For: 04/22/2025; 9:00 AM; ABE (QUINT) SHAFER V ; Platte




04/15/2025

Hearing Held
State appears by APA Zac McKnight. Defendant appears in custody and by attorney Katherine Berger.
Continued at the Defendant's request w/o objection and for good cause shown to 4/22/25 at 9:00 a.m. for tentative preliminary hearing/bond review. (slc)

Associated Entries: 03/18/2025 - Hearing Scheduled
Scheduled For: 04/15/2025; 9:00 AM; ABE (QUINT) SHAFER V ; Platte


BERGER, KATHERINE E - Attorney for Defendant
 
al66pine said:
Attorneys in the Civil Cases?

I'd like to know whether the same atty/law firm is repping the plaintiffs in both wrongful death actions.

Anyone? Pls and TY.

ETA:

@arielilane​

Thx for crim case update.
Click to expand...
I dont know the answer to your question, @al66pine . Id like to know as well. :)

Edit: the above link appears to be for judicial cases, didnt see for civil cases.
 
Attys Repping Plaintiffs in Civil Cases. Wrongful Death.

@arielilane Found it. TY.

Two different firms.

Plaintiff....... BOSSERT, NANCY.*
Atty............ MENDEL, THOMAS KELLY** - ofc in Liberty MO.

Plaintiff........JOHNSON, RICKIE***
Atty.............SPENCER, JOHN MARVIN**** - ofc in St. Joseph MO.

I wonder if fam of the third man will file.

________________________________________

* 25AE-CC00078 - NANCY BOSSERT V JORDAN R WILLIS ET AL (E-CASE)

** Mendel
Areas of practice: lists 27, w several re PersInj. & Wrongful Death

*** 25AE-CC00090 - RICKIE JOHNSON V JORDAN R WILLIS ET AL (E-CASE)

**** Spencer:
Areas of practice: Estate planning, Taxation, Banking Law, Corporate Law, Real Estate, Litigation, Defense Litigation
 
Last edited:
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