The mother of a man who died outside his friend’s home on Jan. 7 after a Kansas City Chiefs game is opening up about her devastating loss — and how it’s impacting his 4-year-old daughter.
Ricky Johnson was found dead outside Jordan Willis’ home on Jan. 9, as were their friends David Harrington and Clayton McGeeney. The causes of their deaths have not been released.
Johnson’s mother, Norma Chester, tells PEOPLE she was celebrating her 66th birthday when she learned her son had died. She has since been looking after the 4-year-old, whom she was caring for at the time of Johnson’s death.
“So she was happy to go home and see Daddy,” says the 66-year-old Lebanon, Mo., woman.
Johnson was the only person who did not reach out to his mom on her birthday. The night prior, Johnson’s father texted Chester and mentioned that “he hadn’t heard from” their son.
The next evening, Chester says she texted the mother of one of his children and “asked her if she had heard from him.” She said “no” but began “calling around” in search of an answer.
“That’s how we all found out about it,” Chester tells PEOPLE. She says it took about a “day or so” before they were sure of Johnson’s death because the men were found outside Willis’ home.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Johnson’s mother adds.
Johnson was planning on seeing his youngest daughter the weekend after his mother’s birthday, “which she was very, very happy about,” Chester says. Now, she is coping with his death.
“She’s always saying, ‘Grandma, I miss my dad,'” the mom explains. “Then she’ll see something on TV [and say] ‘There’s my dad.’ And that’s so heartbreaking.”
Johnson “loved spending time” with his three “beautiful” daughters, according to his mom. “He would’ve done anything for his girls,” she adds.
The father of three was also a loving brother, uncle and friend. Chester says she misses “his smile and his hug” the most, adding, “You knew he loved you when he hugged you, and he had the prettiest smile.”
Johnson was also a fan of “every sport” imaginable. “It wasn’t just the Chiefs football,” his mom says. “It was every sport.”
Johnson’s family is among those looking for answers after the trio of bodies were found at Willis’ home. Johnson’s brother, Jonathan Price, said, “The facts don’t add up,” in a separate interview with PEOPLE.
John Picerno, who is representing Willis, previously told PEOPLE in a statement that his client “is unaware of how his friends died” and is “anxiously awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology report.”
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