The girlfriend of one of three Kansas City Chiefs fans mysteriously found dead in a friend’s backyard has debunked rumors he was a drug addict.
Lorie Kruse said her partner David Harrington was “a really good guy” and that he was “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Harrington, 37, was found dead on January 9 along with Ricky Johnson, 38, and Clayton McGeeney, 36, in the backyard of Jordan Willis’ home in Kansas City, Missouri.
Police have released few details about the circumstances but stated it is not being treated as a homicide, leading to speculation that drugs or alcohol may have been involved.
“David wasn’t the drug addict they’re talking about,” Lorie Kruse said NewsNation. ‘He was a good guy. Very good guy.’
Lorie Kruse, girlfriend of David Harrington, one of three Kansas City Chiefs fans found dead in their friend’s yard, denied he was a drug addict
David Harrington (second from left), Clayton McGeeney (second from right) and Ricky Johnson (right) are shown with two unidentified fellow Chiefs fans, neither of whom are believed to be involved in the mystery. Harrington, McGeeney and Johnson were found dead in the backyard of another man’s home on January 9
Willis told police the men froze to death in his backyard. Their loved ones have raised questions about the lack of coverage of their bodies, and the snow they say was not deep enough to submerge them
She acknowledged that there has been a lot of misinformation about the case spread on social media, with vile trolls even mocking the deaths on TikTok.
“People laugh about it … because they don’t know these people, and my kids see that,” Kruse said. “I’ve been open with them, we’re dealing with it and we’re learning from it.
“We have six children who don’t have fathers, we have families, we have friends, and we’re all hurting and I don’t want to hear what everyone has to say, but I do.
‘David was a good guy. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Harrington’s mother told the newspaper that Willis may have more information than thought.
“I think Jordan knows,” she said. “And I’m asking Jordan to please come forward and tell the truth because he knows what happened that night. … He is the only one who can give all our families some peace.”
David Harrington was found dead on his friend’s property on January 9
Clayton McGeeney, 36, (left) and Ricky Johnson (right) were also found dead in the backyard
However, Harrington’s father, Jon, acknowledged that the men could have used “questionable” means.
“I’m aware they may have used some substances that were questionable, but the idea was to get high, not die. “If they were friends, why didn’t Willis come find them,” the grieving father told Fox News.
“I’m sure they have a hundred different answers to that, but that’s my question.”
But Willis’ father said he would “never in a million years do anything,” amid wild speculation from the men’s relatives about how they ultimately died.
Officials are still awaiting the results of a toxicology report.
The men were found dead on Willis’ property by the fiancée of one of the men who broke into the house on January 9 and found him on the porch.
Family of the deceased describe how they tried to contact them in the two days they were missing, while a fifth man also tried to reach Willis in vain.
One of the bodies was found on the back porch of the property by the fiancée of one of the men, who broke in after not receiving a response from Willis.
The other two bodies were found in the backyard. Police initially said there was no foul play, but have yet to confirm the cause of death of the three men
Talge said his client received a text two days later from McGeeney’s fiancée and Johnson’s mother asking where they were.
Picerno told NewsNation that phone records may show that Willis never sent text messages during that period, indicating he did not check his phone for incoming messages.
Willis denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged. He told police the men froze to death in his backyard while he slept inside with music and a fan so he couldn’t hear their cries for help.