• It’s been one yr since three of Jordan Willis’ buddies, Clayton McGeeney, David Harrington and Ricky Johnson, have been discovered useless outdoors Willis’ rental residence in Kansas Metropolis, Mo.
• The case made near-instant headlines, as a lot for the weird nature of the deaths as for the various key questions that haven’t but been publicly resolved
• “What may probably take this lengthy?” 

John Picerno has been an legal professional for greater than 31 years — and he says he’s not often, if ever, seen a case like the one involving his shopper Jordan Willis.

It’s been one yr since three of Willis’ buddies, Clayton McGeeney, David Harrington and Ricky Johnson, have been discovered useless outdoors Willis’ rental residence two days after the group gathered in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., to observe a Chiefs recreation.

The case made near-instant headlines, as a lot for the weird nature of the deaths as for the various key questions that have not yet been publicly resolved.

Preliminary toxicology outcomes confirmed the boys consumed cocaine and fentanyl earlier than they died. However the ultimate post-mortem experiences and official causes of demise haven’t been launched, and authorities say the case could be very a lot energetic. 

“What may probably take this lengthy?” says Picerno, sounding a observe of exasperation much like loved ones of the three men who’ve referred to as into query whether or not they’re being informed the total story by Willis and others.

Picerno has maintained Willis has no data of his buddies’ deaths, and Kansas Metropolis police have stated “no foul play” was “noticed or suspected.” Willis has by no means been accused of a criminal offense, and Picerno has stated he believes charges could be brought towards whoever provided medication that night time. 

Nonetheless “the investigation stays ongoing,” a police spokesman tells PEOPLE on the one-year anniversary.

“There has not been any new data launched,” the spokesman says, including, “Investigators and prosecutors stay in contact and investigators have continued to speak their investigative findings. This stays a demise investigation.”

The Platte County district legal professional, Eric Zahnd, echoed that to USA Right now, saying in a recent interview: “This case … has been a protracted and sophisticated investigation, however we won’t quit on making an attempt to find out who’s chargeable for the deaths of those younger males.” 

A spokeswoman for Zahnd informed PEOPLE earlier this month that “nothing has been filed as of this date.”

Autopsies have been accomplished on the three buddies and experiences have been ready, in response to USA Right now, however these data are underneath seal. (A consultant with the corporate that, in response to USA Right now, carried out the postmortems tells PEOPLE they can not focus on the case.)

The our bodies of McGeeney, Harrington and Johnson have been discovered on Jan. 9, 2024, outdoors the house the place Willis was staying. 

Picerno beforehand stated that Willis, who labored as a scientist, went to mattress after spending time together with his buddies and final noticed them on Jan. 7 of final yr after they have been leaving his residence. A fifth particular person, who has not been publicly recognized, was additionally in attendance for a while however left earlier.

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Different particulars concerning the timeline stay unclear, and a few accounts have shifted and conflicted — making the reality of that night time more durable to verify. Willis, Picerno has stated, is “unaware of how his buddies died” and didn’t understand their our bodies have been simply outdoors for 2 days.

“He’s recognized them for over 20 years. They’re his buddies,” Picerno told NewsNation in 2024. “He’s deeply damage by their passing.”

Picerno says now that he feels it’s time for authorities to publicly clear Willis, whom he says can’t get a job.

“They refuse to remark nonetheless. And in order that’s sort of the place we’re at,” Picerno says.

“Clearly, the general public nonetheless thinks he is by some means concerned within the deaths of those guys. In case you [the authorities] know that he did not have something to do with it, why do not you come out publicly and clear him?” he says.

The lads’s our bodies have been discovered on the house’s again porch and yard after McGeeney’s fiancée went searching for him.

“Simply the considered him dying and … him sitting outdoors within the chilly for 2 days, it’s extraordinarily devastating,” McGeeney’s cousin Caleb beforehand told Fox affiliate WDAF. “The entire household is tousled. He was such a very good particular person.”

Harrington’s dad, Jon, has informed PEOPLE that he “beloved life. I’m extremely positive that the end result of this was not meant.”

He additionally stated he had considerations concerning the indications that medication have been concerned: “I’m not shopping for that. I’m not arguing that that was what they present in his system, however the way it obtained into the system, we nonetheless don’t know.” (Jon declined to remark additional for this story.)

The households of the three males have grappled with the unsure nature of their deaths and the web hypothesis and theories which have swirled since.

“I take a look at every thing, regardless of how ridiculous it appears,” Johnson’s brother, Jonathan Worth, beforehand informed PEOPLE.

However, he stated, “I solely cope with info, and I haven’t got any of these.”

“If I have been to provide a speculation … for the three males to die in the best way that they did, one thing needed to have been of their system,” Worth informed PEOPLE. “Whether or not or not it was taken knowingly, I would not reply that.”

As an legal professional for McGeeney’s mom and fiancée said to Fox News final February, “Loads of these questions might by no means be answered in a means that makes individuals glad.”