In a story that’s as strange as it is tragic, three Kansas City Chiefs fans were discovered frozen to death in the backyard of a friend’s home where they had gathered to watch their beloved team.
The victims, identified as David Harrington, 37, Ricky Johnson, 38, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, were found on the evening of January 9th, prompting an investigation by the Kansas City Police.
The grim discovery came after the fiancée of one of the men requested a welfare check when the trio failed to return home following the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on January 7th.
One man’s body was found on the back porch of the NW 83rd Terrace home, while the other two were discovered in the backyard.
The chilling revelation raised questions about how long the victims had been exposed to freezing temperatures, as weather reports indicate a drop to the teens on the afternoon of January 9th.
Kansas City Police Captain Jake Becchina clarified: “First and foremost, this case is 100% NOT being investigated as a homicide.”
“There have not been any arrests [or] charges, and no one is in custody. There are no specific threats or concerns for the surrounding community at this time. The resident at the house was cooperative with detectives the day the deceased were discovered,” he added.
Temperatures on January 7th and 8th mostly stayed in the low 30’s before plummeting, according to Weather Underground.
Family and friends of the victims expressed their outrage on social media, blaming the homeowner for what they perceive as negligence.
Kaylee La Tier, a friend of the victims, wrote on Facebook: “This man was inside his home alive while my friends were dead in his yard for lord knows how long.”
“He KNEW people were looking for them. He read messages of people searching for him on Tuesday,” she added.
John Picerno, an attorney representing the homeowner, countered these claims, stating his client had no idea his friends were dead until the police informed him.
Picerno explained that the homeowner was sleeping with headphones on next to a loud fan and did not see a message from one of their wives until after the police contacted him.
“Like the rest of us, [the homeowner] is anxiously awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology report,” Picerno added.
Despite the accusations, the Kansas City Police Department reiterated that they do not suspect foul play in the deaths. Picerno expressed condolences on behalf of the homeowner.
“On behalf of [the homeowner] and his family, we wish to express our deepest sympathies to the friends and family members of these young men, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said.
Friends gathered to celebrate the life of David Harrington while watching the Chiefs defeat the Bills in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs on Sunday.
Needless to say, this is a very strange story which raises a ton of questions…
Hopefully we find out more information about what exactly happened.
Regardless, RIP to the deceased.
