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Kansas City Chiefs fans deaths: 'Hard to see scenario where something unusual didn't happen,' lawyer says

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Kansas City Chiefs fans deaths: 'Hard to see scenario where something unusual didn't happen,' lawyer says


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An attorney representing the family of Clayton McGeeney, one of three Kansas City men found dead in freezing conditions after an NFL watch party, said his clients need to know whether there was any “intention or malice” in party host Jordan Willis’ behavior in the two days he didn’t report the bodies in his yard.

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Tony Kagay told Fox News Digital he would “feel nothing but sympathy” if Willis was “blameless” in the deaths of McGeeney, Ricky Johnson and David Harrington, but Kagay said it would be “very hard to explain” how he could “not realize what happened to his friends” when they were “frozen in his backyard for two days.”

The friends were last seen alive inside Willis’ Northwest 83rd Terrace home after the Kansas City Chiefs’ win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 7. Although Kagay confirmed that drugs were detected in the men’s systems, according to preliminary toxicology results shared with their loved ones by police, he could not confirm which were found.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FANS FOUND DEAD IN FRIEND’S BACKYARD: WHAT TO KNOW

David Harrington, Clayton McGeeney and Ricky Johnson were found dead outside their friend’s Kansas City home on Jan. 9, 2024. (Ricky Johnson/Facebook)

“I think that … if Monday morning [Willis] had realized that his friends had expired overnight and he called 911, I don’t know that this would be a story,” Kagay said on Wednesday. “I don’t know if we’d be talking about it today; it would get a few days in the Kansas City market, and then it would fade away.”

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Kagay said McGeeney’s mother, Nancy Bossert, and his fiancée, April Mahoney, attempted to reach McGeeney and then Willis over the two-day period when the men were missing. “Multiple people” in their “close-knit” group of friends that lived within a mile radius made calls and house calls in attempts to find them, Kagay said.

But their deaths weren’t reported until the evening of Jan. 9, when Kagay said Mahoney broke onto Willis’ property out of desperation and discovered one of the men’s bodies. The Kansas City Police Department would find two more bodies behind the home; video recorded by a neighbor shows Willis handcuffed in boxer shorts as police conducted their search.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FANS DEATHS: DRUGS IN MEN’S SYSTEMS SHOW ‘THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY,’ FAMILY SAYS

The family of Clayton McGeeney, pictured, is anxiously awaiting the results of the Kansas City Police Department’s investigation into his death, says his family’s attorney, Tony Kagay. (Facebook)

It is unclear exactly when or how they died. Kagay said “multiple personal items” belonging to the men that remained in Willis’ home after they died raise further questions.

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“How does [Willis] not realize what has happened to his friends? That’s a big part of what the family wants to know,” Kagay said. “We may never have an answer to that, we just might not.”

“It’s very hard to see a scenario where something unusual didn’t happen,” he continued.

Kagay said there has been “disappointment” over the way the KCPD communicated with the press about the men’s deaths; the agency previously told Fox News Digital the deaths were “100 percent not being investigated as… homicides.”

PRELIMINARY TOXICOLOGY RESULTS BACK FOR KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FANS FOUND FROZEN TO DEATH

HIV scientist Jordan Willis, 38, checked himself into a rehab facility after his three friends were found dead in his backyard on Jan. 9, 2024. (GitHub)

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“I don’t think they were in a position to say that. Clearly there is an ongoing investigation,” Kagay said. “I just don’t know how they made that determination and I don’t know that was helpful to say … when you say there was no sign of foul play, there was no gunshot, no stab wound, but it doesn’t mean that there wasn’t something that occurred was illegal. … I don’t know that was handled in the ideal manner.”

“I’m not saying that anybody did anything intentional,” Kagay said. “[But] I don’t think that it would be required for there to be criminal liability.”

“Regardless of who was responsible, the fact is that three young men who were in good health were celebrating with a friend, each other. They ended up dead,” Kagay said. “One of Nancy’s main concerns is that this not happen to anyone else in the future.”

The media attention that this case has received, Kagay said, has been a “double-edged sword” for his clients. On one hand, they want to “grieve in peace.” On the other, Kagay believes the attention can be used to “apply some gentle but effective pressure” on the KCPD and compel a more thorough investigation.

PARENTS OF KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FANS FOUND DEAD THINK VICTIMS ‘SAW SOMETHING THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE SEEN’

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Family and friends of Clayton McGeeney, left, David Harrington, center, and Ricky Johnson are clamoring for answers after the three men inexplicably died in freezing temperatures outside their friend’s Kansas City home. (Facebook)

When full autopsy and toxicology reports are available and police complete their forensic investigation of electronic devices – at least two of the men’s families have been asked for their son’s phone passwords – the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office will decide whether criminal charges should be pressed against Willis or Alex Weamer-Lee, a fifth party guest who left the house alive on Jan. 7.

Last week, representatives from the families of Harrington, Johnson and McGeeney met with the prosecutor’s office. Kagay said “prosecutors wanted the family to know this situation was being investigated thoroughly” and that they would “cooperate with the families in the future.”

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions and understandable skepticism as far as an explanation for how this happened,” Kagay said. “There are attempts being made to resolve those questions.”

Kagay also said “some of the family have publicly expressed skepticism” about Willis’ announcement that he checked himself into an inpatient rehabilitation facility after his friends’ deaths.

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“The timing could appear to a cynical person to be a bit suspect,” Kagay said. “On the other hand, he may have a substance abuse problem and [needed] to check into rehab.”

This view shows the backyard and porch of Jordan Willis’ home in Kansas City on Jan. 26, 2024. (DWS for Fox News Digital)

But although he said that only the results of the investigation can prove any culpability or lack thereof in the men’s deaths, Kagay’s criminal defense background compels him to wonder about the case in the interim. 

“I really want to know where exactly their bodies were discovered. What were they wearing? What was in the house?” Kagay asked. “If there was drug use, was there a cleanup that occurred in those two days [before the bodies were discovered]? Was there paraphernalia in plain view when law enforcement arrived?”

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“A lot of these questions may never be answered in a way that makes people satisfied,” Kagay said.

But McGeeney’s family is patiently awaiting police findings until more information is released and “their position is that we don’t know if [an investigation was] done appropriately or inappropriately because we don’t know how it was done.”



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Kansas City, Kansas, baseball field renamed to honor fallen deputy Elijah Ming

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Kansas City, Kansas, baseball field renamed to honor fallen deputy Elijah Ming


KSHB 41 reporter Fernanda Silva covers stories in the Northland. She also focuses on issues surrounding immigration. Share your story idea with Fernanda.

Elijah Ming’s son is only two — too young to hold many memories of his dad.

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Kansas City, Kansas, baseball field renamed to honor fallen deputy Elijah Ming

But he will remember him. Elijah lives on in Deuce — the little one who also carries his father’s name.

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“He definitely carries a lot of traits that Elijah had,” said Elijah’s wife, Tiara Ming.

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One of those traits now stands tall on a KCK baseball field. On Thursday, fallen Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming was honored once again as Heathwood Park was renamed Elijah Ming Memorial Field.

“It’ll be here for generations and decades to come,” said KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner.

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“That’s a sign to our young people in this community that these are the folks we should be looking up to,” said Wyandotte County Sheriff Daniel Soptic.

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Family, friends, Wyandotte County deputies, and local officials attended the event.

Ming was shot and killed in July as he responded to help a woman who felt threatened while moving out of a home in Kansas City, Kansas.

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“He was the guy,” said America Patton, Elijah’s mentor. “He had the whole package.”

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Elijah’s brothers say there’s no better place for the dedication — they have countless memories there.

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“To see bro’s name right here… it makes sense,” said Isaiah Ming. “It all started here.”

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“That was the best years of my life,” said Herman Ming.

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But this year was a hard one.

They lost their mom to cancer and their brother to gun violence just days apart.

Moving on is not easy.

“That’s when my whole life changed,” said Isaiah. “Just trying to learn how to get through these rainy days.”

As they cope, they hold on to the dreams that are now becoming reality — even if not in the way they imagined.

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“We really dreamed about us having something named after us. We never thought it’d come to this,” said Herman. “He’s definitely gonna live on.”

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They hope Elijah’s memory continues to guide future generations — especially his little man.

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“It’s a special moment for him because I don’t think he realizes how much weight his name is going to carry in the community,” Tiara said.

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Fernanda Silva





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Kansas City Chiefs Announce Jeff Shafer as 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker 

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Kansas City Chiefs Announce Jeff Shafer as 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker 


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today, the Kansas City Chiefs announced Jeff Shafer as their 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker – an annual recognition celebrating leaders who are driving significant, measurable change in their communities across the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative’s four pillars: education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform.

Shafer is the executive director of City Year Kansas City and leads a dedicated team in providing public school students with the academic and social-emotional tools needed to thrive. Beginning in 2010, Shafer began his over-a-decade long work in giving back to local students as an AmeriCorps member in Chicago’s South Side. After five years with AmeriCorps, Shafer transitioned back to Kansas City to assist with the launch of City Year KC. Since 2015, Shafer and City Year KC have remained important pieces in revitalizing the Kansas City Public Schools district, most notably revitalizing accreditation in 2022. The Kansas City native routinely participates in service events throughout the year, including City Year KC’s Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service where he leads volunteers in beautifying public school spaces with murals and messages of hope.

In addition, Shafer has served on the boards of Brothers Liberating Our Communities, which is responsible for recruiting and retaining Black male educators, and Charlotte Street, a nonprofit providing resources to local artists and curators.

Shafer will be recognized at the Chiefs Inspire Change game during their Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers for his exceptional work in pursuit of education. He will also receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation, paid directly to a non-profit organization of his choice.

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“We are incredibly proud to honor Jeff Shafer as the recipient of the club’s 2025 Changemaker Award,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “His commitment to providing necessary resources to our local public school system through City Year KC embodies what it means to be a pioneer for educational advancement. The Kansas City Chiefs are grateful for the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, which spotlights important endeavors in our local community, and we are grateful to have Jeff represent the Chiefs this season.”

“The Changemakers selected this year have demonstrated what’s possible when leaders commit to creating real change in their communities,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. “Their work is a powerful example for others and proof that sustained dedication can drive meaningful progress. The NFL family is proud to recognize their impact.” For more information, visit the link here.



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New trial set for Kansas man in son’s death

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New trial set for Kansas man in son’s death


WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A new trial has been scheduled for a Kansas man convicted of killing his infant son.

Kaleb Hogan will be tried again in January on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse.

Hogan was found guilty in 2023 of those same charges in the death of 3-month-old Malykai Hogan.

He was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. But he appealed.

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Earlier this year, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned his conviction, saying the trial judge incorrectly admitted evidence of prior acts of alleged abuse.

The court ruled that the evidence did not fall within an exception allowing alleged prior acts to be admitted into evidence because the state couldn’t link the prior abuse to Hogan. In fact, prosecutors admitted during oral arguments at the high court that they did not charge Hogan with other counts of abuse because they couldn’t prove he was responsible for the child’s earlier injuries.

The court ruled that the state couldn’t prove that the error was harmless, so the case was returned to Butler County District Court for a new trial.

Court records show that a jury trial has been scheduled for Hogan on Jan. 6 at 9 a.m.


For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.



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