Angels Drug Scandal: Ex-Wife Testifies Players Used Pills on Team Plane in Skaggs Trial

Explosive Testimony Alleges Widespread Opioid Use Among Angels Players

In a critical development in the civil lawsuit surrounding the 2019 overdose death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, explosive testimony presented in a Santa Ana, California, courtroom alleged that drug use, specifically involving prescription opioids, was openly occurring among players and staff, even on the team’s chartered flights.

The testimony came from Carley Skaggs, the ex-wife of former Angels communications director Eric Kay. Kay is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence for providing the drugs that led to Tyler Skaggs’s death.

Carley Skaggs’s account directly supports the central claim of the plaintiffs—Skaggs’s widow, Carli Skaggs, and his parents—that the Angels organization was negligent because the drug use and distribution network involving Kay were allegedly rampant and visible within the team environment.

The Witness Account: Pills on the Team Plane

Testifying on Monday during the ongoing civil proceedings in 2025, Carley Skaggs detailed instances where she witnessed the open use of pills by Angels personnel. Her testimony painted a picture of a clubhouse culture where opioid use was not hidden.

Key Points from Carley Skaggs’s Testimony:

• Team Plane Use: She testified that she saw Angels players and clubhouse staff using oxycodone and partying with pills on the team plane, specifically recalling a trip to Houston in 2019.
• Eric Kay’s Role: She identified her ex-husband, Eric Kay, as “the guy” who provided pills to Tyler Skaggs and other players.
• Joint Drug Use: Carley Skaggs stated she witnessed both Kay and Tyler Skaggs using pills together in Kay’s apartment.
• Kay’s Personal Use: She confirmed that Eric Kay himself used both oxycodone and the highly potent synthetic opioid fentanyl.

This testimony is significant because it suggests that the alleged drug distribution and use were not confined to private settings but occurred in environments controlled by the organization, making the Angels’ defense of ignorance considerably more difficult.

Context of the Civil Lawsuit

The civil trial currently underway is distinct from the criminal case that resulted in Eric Kay’s conviction. The plaintiffs are suing the Los Angeles Angels organization for negligence and wrongful death.

Tyler Skaggs was found dead in a Texas hotel room on July 1, 2019, while the team was on a road trip. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was an overdose of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone.

The lawsuit argues that the Angels organization failed in its duty to protect its employees because it allegedly knew, or should have known, that Kay was struggling with drug addiction and was distributing dangerous substances to players, yet failed to intervene or report the activity.

“The organization had a responsibility to monitor and address the known drug issues within its staff and team environment,” the plaintiffs argue, suggesting that the alleged open use of pills on team travel demonstrates a systemic failure of corporate oversight.

The Precedent: Eric Kay’s Criminal Conviction

The civil trial follows the conclusion of the federal criminal case against Eric Kay. In 2022, Kay was convicted on two counts: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. He was subsequently sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.

During the criminal trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Kay regularly supplied Skaggs with oxycodone pills for years leading up to the pitcher’s death. The current civil trial leverages much of the context established in the criminal proceedings but shifts the focus to the culpability of the Angels as an employer.

Implications for the Angels Organization

If the jury finds the Angels organization liable for negligence, it would establish a precedent regarding the responsibility of professional sports teams to monitor and address drug use among staff and players, particularly when that use results in tragedy. The testimony regarding drug use on the team plane is particularly damaging, as it implies the misconduct was visible and potentially ignored by management or travel personnel.

Key Takeaways from the Trial Development

• Witness Identity: Carley Skaggs, Eric Kay’s ex-wife, provided testimony directly linking Kay to drug distribution among Angels players.
• Crucial Allegation: She claimed to have witnessed players and staff using pills openly on the Angels team plane during a 2019 trip.
• Trial Focus: The civil lawsuit, brought by Skaggs’s family, centers on the claim that the Angels organization was negligent in failing to address Kay’s known drug issues and distribution activities.
• Legal Status: Eric Kay is already serving a 22-year sentence following his 2022 federal conviction for providing the drugs that killed Skaggs.
• Broader Impact: The outcome of this civil trial could redefine corporate responsibility for employee welfare within Major League Baseball and other professional sports leagues.

What’s Next in the Proceedings

The civil trial is expected to continue with further testimony regarding the Angels’ internal knowledge and handling of Eric Kay’s behavior. The defense for the Angels organization is likely to argue that Kay acted outside the scope of his employment and that the organization had no direct knowledge of the distribution network. However, the testimony alleging open drug use on team travel presents a significant hurdle for this defense. The jury will ultimately decide whether the organization failed in its duty of care to Tyler Skaggs.