An employee of the Los Angeles Angels reportedly told federal investigators he supplied pitcherTyler Skaggswith oxycodone before his death.
According toan explosive ESPN report,Angels’ Director of Communications Eric Kay met with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigators and detailed how he provided Skaggs, 27, with oxycodone and abused it with him for years.
Kay told investigators he gave the 27-year-old three oxycodone pills a day or two before the Angels left California for Texas, ESPN reported. Kay also said he did not believe the pills he gave Skaggs were the same the athlete took the day he died because he usually consumed them immediately.
Kay also reportedly told investigators the pitcher did lines of oxycodone in front of him on the night of his death. One line of a substance Kay was not familiar with. ESPN obtained screenshots of Venmo transactions between Skaggs and Kay over the course of two years for amounts between $150 and $600.
ESPN said Kay’s attorney, Michael Molfetta, confirmed the details of his client’s statements that were given in separate meetings with DEA agents in Dallas and Los Angeles in late September.
Tyler Skaggs.Ric Tapia/Getty Images
On July 1, Skaggswas found deadin a Southlake, Texas, hotel room, just two days after he pitched for the team at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California. At the time of his death, Skaggs’ family released a statement to theLos Angeles TimesandThe Blastin response to the toxicology report, alleging that Skaggs’ death “may involve” an Angels employee.
Skaggs choked on his vomit while under the influence and the death was ruled an accident. There were no signs of trauma, according to the toxicology report.
Tyler Skaggs.Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
On Saturday, attorney Rusty Hardin released a statement to PEOPLE on behalf of the Skaggs family following the ESPN report.
“The Skaggs family continues to mourn the loss of a beloved son, brother, husband, and son-in-law. They greatly appreciate the work that law enforcement is doing, and are patiently awaiting the results of the investigation,” the statement read.
source: people.com
