A chronology of events from the time three football fans were discovered dead outside a Kansas City residence
According to information from police and a lawyer familiar to the case, the death investigation into the three football enthusiasts who were discovered dead outside a friend’s Missouri home when the temperature went below freezing last month continued on Friday while law enforcement awaited the findings of the autopsy.
The Kansas City Police Department said in January that three people—Ricky Johnson, 38, David Harrington, 37, and Clayton McGeeney, 36—were discovered dead on January 9 outside of a man’s home in a suburb of Kansas City.
A 38-year-old scientist who works remotely for a New York hospital and lives alone rents the house, according to John Picerno, the man’s Kansas City-based attorney, who first contacted USA TODAY.
USA TODAY is not naming the man who lives in the home because he has not been arrested or charged with a crime.
Although police said foul play is not suspected in their deaths, officials from multiple agencies have been working to determine how the men died.
USA TODAY has requested copies of their autopsy and toxicology reports when they are available for public release. Results can take anywhere from six weeks to months to be completed.
January 7: Football fans gather to watch Chiefs-Chargers game
Harrington, Johnson and McGeeney, visit the 38-year-old man’s home to watch the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers game, according to Harrington’s mother, Jennifer Marquez.
Picerno said the four men and a fifth person spend the day “watching the game” and eventually the fifth friend leaves the home.
January 8: Friends leave, homeowner wakes up and works
At some point during “the early morning hours of Jan. 8, Harrington, Johnson and McGeene” leave the home before his client goes to bed, Picerno said.
Picerno said his client sleeps “most of Monday,” gets up, works from home and eventually goes back to sleep.
January 9: Men found dead outside the home
All three are found dead Jan. 9 outside the man’s house in a Kansas City suburb after McGeeney’s fiancée visits the home, finds one of them dead on the back porch, and notifies police.
January 16: Police confirm deaths, begin investigation
Police confirm to USA TODAY the men were found dead the evening of Jan. 9 at the Platte County home and confirm a death investigation is underway.
Investigators say a preliminary investigation indicates no foul play in the case.
A medical examiner spokesperson confirms autopsies and toxicology tests were conducted on all three men and their results were pending.
January 23: Homeowner says he had no knowledge friends were outside
Picerno releases a statement to USA TODAY saying his client, who attended high school with two of the victims, and has known the third victim for several years, had nothing to do with the death of “his friends” and had no knowledge they were outside or “he certainly would have called for help.”
January 26: Police say there’s no foul play
Police confirm on Jan. 26 foul play is not suspected in the men’s deaths.
“This is not being investigated as a homicide, it is a death investigation,” police spokesperson Jake Becchina tells USA TODAY.
February 1: Local TV station says toxicology results were released to police
A local TV station in Kansas City reports the victims’ toxicology results were released to police investigators, according to one of the victim’s family members
February 2: Case remains active and ongoing
When reached by phone Friday, Picerno says he cannot comment on the station’s report.
“We will not be making any comments until the autopsy report has been released,” Picerno says when asked by USA TODAY about results reportedly released to the family.
Police Sergeant Phil DiMartino confirms to USA TODAY the case remains active and ongoing.
“There have been no additional details or reports of this case revealed to any media, nor are there any plans to at this time,” DiMartino says. “The case remains an ongoing death investigation. Both KCPD Detectives and the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office have been in touch with the deceased men’s families and remain in contact with them as the investigation unfolds.”
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