Ex-Wife Testifies Angels Knew of Drug Abuse Before Skaggs’ Death

UPDATE: In a shocking testimony today, Camela Kay, ex-wife of former Los Angeles Angels communications employee Eric Kay, revealed that the organization was aware of Kay’s drug abuse prior to the tragic death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019. This explosive claim came during the ongoing wrongful death civil suit, raising urgent questions about the team’s responsibility in the events leading to Skaggs’ overdose.

Camela Kay’s testimony, delivered this afternoon in Santa Ana, California, detailed multiple instances where team employees allegedly distributed non-prescription drugs to players, including a harrowing account of pills being passed out on a team plane. “I had seen them passing out pills and drinking alcohol excessively,” she stated, underscoring the dangerous environment within the team.

The courtroom was marked by tension as Angels’ attorneys frequently interrupted her testimony with objections. This came as no surprise, considering the stakes: the Skaggs family is pursuing a staggering $118 million in damages, claiming the team violated its own drug abuse intervention policies.

Camela Kay provided chilling details of an attempted intervention on October 1, 2017, when team executives Tim Mead and Tom Taylor visited their home. She testified that Mead emerged from her husband’s bedroom holding “six or seven” baggies filled with pills, which he claimed were directed to him by Eric Kay. “I was shocked,” she recalled, emphasizing her concerns about the distribution of drugs within the team.

Earlier testimonies from Mead and Taylor suggested they were unaware of Kay’s drug use and had no knowledge of his supplying drugs to players until after Skaggs’ fatal overdose. Their statements directly contradict Camela Kay’s claims, creating a complicated narrative as the trial unfolds.

Despite Kay’s conviction in 2022 for supplying a fentanyl-laced pill that led to Skaggs’ death, the defense argues that the team is not responsible, asserting that Skaggs had a history of drug use dating back to his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Angels attorney Todd Theodora claimed, “It was Skaggs who decided to obtain the illicit pills.”

Camela Kay’s testimony continues to shed light on the troubling dynamics surrounding Eric Kay’s substance abuse. She recounted efforts to get her husband into rehabilitation, claiming she communicated her concerns directly to team officials. Her testimony is supported by text messages presented in court, revealing the extent of her efforts to intervene.

As this gripping trial progresses, the implications of Camela Kay’s revelations could have significant consequences for the Angels organization. The family of Tyler Skaggs holds the team accountable, asserting that they failed to protect him from dangerous influences, putting his life at risk.

The trial is expected to resume later today, with more crucial testimony anticipated. The outcome could reshape the future of the Angels and impact how organizations handle substance abuse among their employees. Stay tuned for the latest updates as this story develops.