
Ex-Angels employee sentenced to 22 years in prison in Tyler Skaggs overdose death
LA TimesEric Kay, shown in February, was sentenced to prison Tuesday for providing Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs with the drugs that led to his death in 2019. “He paid the ultimate price for that.” In one call with his mother, Kay called Skaggs a “piece of s—” and said, “Well, he’s dead, so f— ’em.” He called the Skaggs family “dumb” and “white trash” and said of them: “All they see are dollar signs. Errin Martin told the court the words “are the real Eric Kay” and he is “incapable of taking responsibility for his own actions and likely has been for his entire life.” During brief remarks frequently interrupted by deep breaths and sobs, Kay apologized to his family for the “disgrace and embarrassment” he had caused, attributed his crass phone calls and emails to frustration and selfishness, and called Skaggs a “sweetheart” and “so special.” “We had our own darkness to deal with,” Kay added, referring to both men’s opioid use. Geoffrey Lindenberg, the Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who signed the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint against Kay, wrote, “I believe and Kay were discussing drugs, specifically in this case, blue 30-milligram oxycodone pills.” Lindenberg added: “It was later determined that but for the fentanyl in system, would not have died.” The autopsy found Skaggs died from “alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone intoxication” leading to choking on his own vomit. Cofer also referred to the power dynamic Kay faced working in a big-league clubhouse: “Your survival in the organization depends on your ability to keep these stars happy.” The legal fallout from Skaggs’ overdose includes wrongful death lawsuits filed by the pitcher’s family in Texas and California that have been consolidated in Orange County Superior Court.
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The desperate hours: a pro baseball pitcher’s fentanyl overdose
LA Times
Tyler Skaggs’ death revisited as MLB partners with White House to reduce opioid overdoses
LA Times
Eric Kay’s appeal denied in fentanyl case that killed Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs
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Eric Kay found guilty of supplying drugs that led to death of Angels’ Tyler Skaggs
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Eric Kay verdict is the start of a long, sad road for Angels, MLB and Skaggs family
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Four former Angels say they received oxycodone pills from Eric Kay
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Another Angels employee connected Eric Kay with drug dealer in Tyler Skaggs case, prosecutors argue
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Tyler Skaggs’ mother testifies that Angels pitcher had opioid issue in 2013
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Eric Kay’s attorney says others, including Matt Harvey, gave Tyler Skaggs drugs
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What to watch as Eric Kay’s trial begins nearly three years after Tyler Skaggs’ death
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Seven former Angels could be summoned as witnesses in Eric Kay trial
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Ex-Angels employee charged in Tyler Skaggs’ death supplied players with drugs, feds say
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Trial of ex-Angels employee in connection with Tyler Skaggs’ death is delayed again
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Tyler Skaggs’ family sues Angels over pitcher’s death
LA TimesThe last days of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs: painkillers, an overdose and a search for answers
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Eric Kay’s attorney files motion to postpone trial connected to Tyler Skaggs’ death
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Eric Kay trial in connection with Tyler Skaggs death rescheduled for April
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Trial date for former Angels employee Eric Kay set in Tyler Skaggs overdose case
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Ex-Angels employee indicted in Tyler Skaggs' fatal overdose
The IndependentEric Kay indicted in Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ overdose death
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Former Angels employee Eric Kay charged with distributing fentanyl in Tyler Skaggs case
LA TimesDEA interviews Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and current Angels in Tyler Skaggs probe
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Angels’ Eric Kay: People with ‘roles’ in Tyler Skaggs’ death must take responsibility
LA TimesAttorney for implicated Angels employee: Tyler Skaggs ‘an addict who overdosed’
LA TimesDetails of Tyler Skaggs’ death could trigger legal battle with millions at stake
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