Three Kansas City Chiefs fans were found "frozen to death" outside a home belonging to their friend who claims he did not know that they were there.
The Kansas City Police Department, investigating the incident, has stated that there is no suspicion of foul play in the deaths of 38-year-old Ricky Johnson, 36-year-old Clayton McGeeney, and 37-year-old David Harrington.
The trio had assembled at a friend's residence to watch the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Los Angeles Chargers on the night of January 7, per Fox News.
The men's bodies were discovered on January 9 at 9:51PM after one man's fiancée requested a welfare check. One body was found on the back porch of the home, with the other two discovered in the backyard, having succumbed to the extreme cold.
Captain Jake Becchina of the Kansas City Police Department emphasized: "First and foremost, this case is 100 percent NOT being investigated as a homicide."
He added: "There have not been any arrests [or] charges, and no one is in custody. The resident at the house was cooperative with detectives the day the deceased were discovered."
While it remains unclear whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the men's deaths, toxicology reports are expected to be available in the coming weeks, according to Captain Becchina.
Neighbor Suzanne Reichart expressed her shock at the tragedy, stating: "It's very scary because I heard nothing. I'm home most of the time, but I didn't hear anything. It's kind of disturbing. It makes you wonder what's going on."
Family and friends of the deceased have taken to social media seeking answers and raising questions about the homeowner's actions. Despite allegations that messages were sent to the homeowner before police were involved, he remains unnamed as no criminal charges have been filed.
John Picerno, the attorney representing the homeowner, refuted claims that his client was aware of the dire situation. In a news release to FOX 4, Picerno stated: "He had no knowledge that they remained in his backyard or that they needed medical attention."
The attorney further explained that the homeowner did not hear the two people who came looking for the men at his house due to sleeping with headphones and a loud fan.
Picerno acknowledged that one of the men's wives contacted the homeowner on Facebook Messenger, but he claims the message went unseen until after police intervention. Despite two friends' cars parked on the street outside the house, Picerno insists it "would not be unusual for his friends to have left their cars there overnight."
"[The homeowner] is unaware of how his friends died," Picerno told The Kansas City Star. "Like the rest of us, [the homeowner] is anxiously awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology report… 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."
Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.
