URGENT UPDATE: In a gripping courtroom revelation, Camela Kay, the ex-wife of Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay, testified that the MLB team failed her husband, who battled drug addiction, during a trial linked to the tragic overdose of star pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Kay’s statements were made public earlier today, shedding light on the disturbing environment surrounding the team.
During the civil trial in Santa Ana, California, Camela Kay detailed alarming incidents, including witnessing Angels players using and sharing pills on team flights. Her testimony placed significant blame on the organization for allowing her husband, who was eventually sentenced to 22 years in prison for supplying the drug that led to Skaggs’ death, to continue working while struggling with addiction.
“This isn’t just about Eric,” she stated, emotional in the courtroom. “I am sitting in front of a mother who lost her son and a widow. The Angels failed Eric.” Her poignant words resonate deeply, highlighting the human toll of this tragic case.
The stakes are high as Skaggs’ family seeks $118 million in damages, alleging that the Angels should be held accountable for their inaction regarding Kay’s drug issues. The team has denied any knowledge of Skaggs using drugs and insists that any substance abuse occurred outside the team’s responsibilities.
Camela Kay’s testimony is pivotal, especially as she recalled seeing pills being passed around on team flights during her travels with her then-husband. In 2019, after Eric Kay was hospitalized for a drug overdose, she learned he had pills intended for Skaggs and communicated this to the team’s traveling secretary. Just months later, on July 1, 2019, Skaggs was found dead in a hotel room, a victim of a deadly mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone.
The trial has unearthed shocking details, including how five MLB players testified against Eric Kay, claiming they received oxycodone from him. Medical records revealed Kay had been struggling with addiction for over a decade, indicating serious concerns about his role within the organization.
Camela Kay recounted a heart-wrenching intervention in 2017, where family members confronted Eric about his drug use. The day after, she claimed Angels officials visited their home, even confiscating plastic baggies filled with pills, raising alarms about Kay’s potential drug dealing.
In a chilling account, she described Eric Kay’s erratic behavior leading up to his hospitalization. “He was found shirtless, dancing in his office,” she recalled. Following his release from the hospital, Kay informed her that the pills were for Skaggs, fueling further concern about the culture of drug use within the team.
As the trial progresses, the focus remains on the potential consequences for the Angels organization. Their attorney challenged Camela’s knowledge of her husband’s substance abuse, highlighting that they had been living separately since 2017.
Despite this, her testimony is crucial to the case, as it underscores the systemic issues surrounding drug use in professional sports and the responsibilities of organizations to protect their players.
The aftermath of Tyler Skaggs’ tragic death has prompted the MLB to implement new policies regarding drug testing and rehabilitation for players. However, many question whether these measures are enough to prevent future tragedies.
As this case develops, all eyes are on the courtroom, where the emotional stakes are high, and the implications for the Angels could be monumental. Keep following for the latest updates on this unfolding story.
