UPDATE: In a gripping testimony on Tuesday, Camela Kay, the ex-wife of former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay, accused the MLB team of failing her husband, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his role in the death of star pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Kay’s statements come during a civil trial in Santa Ana, California, where Skaggs’ family is pursuing $118 million in damages.
Kay revealed shocking details about the culture within the Angels, stating she witnessed players engaging in drug use while traveling on the team plane alongside her husband. She recounted how in 2019, after Eric was hospitalized for a drug overdose, she learned he possessed pills intended for Tyler Skaggs, escalating her concerns about the team’s negligence towards her husband’s addiction.
“This is a courtroom where a mother mourns her son and a widow is left behind,” Camela Kay said, highlighting the emotional weight of the lawsuit. She asserted, “The Angels failed Eric,” emphasizing the responsibility she believes the team holds in the tragic events surrounding Skaggs’ death.
Skaggs tragically passed away in July 2019, just days before a series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner’s report indicated he choked on his vomit, with a lethal mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system. Following the incident, Eric Kay was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for providing the fentanyl-laced pill that caused Skaggs’ overdose.
During the trial, Camela Kay testified that she had previously confronted Eric about his drug use, even participating in an intervention in 2017. She described incidents where Angels officials visited their home, confiscating suspicious pills, which raised her fears that Eric was not only using drugs but potentially selling them.
Kay’s testimony is critical to the Skaggs family’s wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels, who claim they were unaware of any drug use by Skaggs and that any illicit behavior occurred during personal time. However, the family argues that the organization enabled Eric Kay’s drug use by allowing him to remain employed while battling addiction.
The trial has drawn attention to the broader issues of drug use in professional sports, with MLB implementing new policies for opioid testing and rehabilitation efforts following Skaggs’ death. As the trial continues, the emotional impact on the families involved remains palpable, with many seeking accountability and change within the sport.
As the case unfolds, all eyes will be on the implications for the Angels and the culture of drug use in professional baseball. The court’s decision could set a significant precedent regarding team responsibilities and player welfare in the face of addiction. Stay tuned for further developments in this urgent and evolving story.
