Ex-Wife Testifies Angels Failed Drug-Addicted Husband in Court

UPDATE: In a gripping testimony during a civil trial, Camela Kay, the ex-wife of former Los Angeles Angels communications director Eric Kay, declared that the MLB team failed her husband, who suffered from drug addiction. The trial centers around the tragic overdose death of star pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019, which has sparked outrage and a wrongful death lawsuit against the Angels.

Camela Kay described a troubling environment within the Angels, detailing instances of players engaging in drug use on team flights. “I saw Angels players partying, drinking, and passing around pills on the team plane,” she revealed, emphasizing the culture that surrounded her husband’s struggles. Skaggs, just 27 years old at the time of his death, was found unresponsive in a Texas hotel room, with a toxicology report showing a deadly combination of fentanyl, alcohol, and oxycodone in his system.

During her testimony, Camela recalled the moment she discovered her husband had pills intended for Skaggs, a key point in the lawsuit. She had informed the Angels’ traveling secretary about Eric’s drug use, only to see her husband sentenced to 22 years in prison for supplying the fatal pill that led to Skaggs’ overdose. “I am sitting in a courtroom for two days in front of a mother who lost her son and a widow,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

The lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ family seeks $118 million in damages, arguing that the Angels should be held accountable for allowing Eric Kay to continue working while he was addicted to drugs. The Angels maintain that they were unaware of Skaggs’ drug use and that any illicit activities occurred during personal time.

Camela Kay’s testimony is pivotal, as she brought to light the culture of substance abuse within the organization. She recounted a harrowing intervention in 2017 when family members confronted Eric about his addiction. “The next day, two Angels officials came over to speak with him and one pulled plastic baggies containing white pills from the bedroom,” she said, raising alarms about his drug dealing.

Further alarming revelations include Eric Kay’s erratic behavior leading up to his hospitalization in 2019. He was found shirtless and dancing in his office before being taken home by an Angels employee. Following a drug overdose, he spent three days in the hospital, where he reportedly told family members that the pills were for Skaggs.

Attorneys for both the family and the Angels have indicated that Camela Kay’s testimony is central to the case. The emotional weight of her statements resonates deeply, highlighting the personal and familial tragedies intertwined with the corporate negligence alleged in the lawsuit.

As the trial unfolds, the implications for the Angels and Major League Baseball are significant. With growing scrutiny over player health and safety, the outcome could lead to major changes in how organizations address addiction and drug use among athletes. Following Skaggs’ death, the MLB introduced new measures to test for opioids, but the fallout from this case continues to raise questions about accountability and support within professional sports.

As this trial progresses, all eyes will remain on the courtroom in Santa Ana, California, where the testimonies and evidence presented may reshape the landscape of player health and organizational responsibility in MLB. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.