Northland overdose case begins movement through legal system

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - A case that shook the nation continued in court Tuesday.

It’s been over a year since Clayton McGeeney, David Harrington, and Ricky Johnson were found dead in the backyard of a Northland home in January 2024.

Investigators just last week said that they were all found with fentanyl and cocaine in their systems.

The men came to the home to watch the Chiefs game and hang out, which police say, at the time, was being rented by Jordan Willis. They were found dead two days later.

A break in the case last week came when Willis and a man named Ivory Carson were charged with involuntary manslaughter and delivery of a controlled substance.

Willis pleaded not guilty and posted bond Friday. Both men appeared in court Tuesday morning via Webex. Willis sat next to his attorney, John Picerno, as he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

From the very beginning, in interviews with KCTV5, Picerno has argued that his client had nothing to do with his friends’ deaths.

In a recent interview when the charges were filed, Picerno told KCTV5, “The bottom line here is that Jordan had no involvement in their deaths. They are his friends, and he is very sad about their loss. I think one of the things that’s contributing to the negative public image of him is what happened after the men ed away and that they are using the fact that Jordan may or may not have had some knowledge that they are out there.”

Ivory Carson also appeared by Webex from jail Tuesday. His bond was modified to $50,000, cash only.

KCTV5 went back to the neighborhood where the men were found. Many people said because it’s been so long, they didn’t think there would ever be movement in the case.

“It was kind of scary, so I’m glad,” said Judy Covell, who lived in the same house for 49 years. “We were all wondering how that could happen in this neighborhood. We are happy to see something moving along.”

Willis and Carson are due back in court in person next month.

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