Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for providing Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs drugs that led to his overdose death in Texas.
Tyler Skaggs : Eric kay | What happened to | Case
Tyler Skaggs was born in Woodland Hills, California, on July 13, 1991.
His parents were athletes: his mother Debbie was a longtime head softball coach at Santa Monica High School, while his father Darnell played high school baseball as a shortstop.
His stepfather, Dan Ramos, played college baseball as well. Growing up, Skaggs attended his mother’s softball practices, where he assisted the players by fielding balls.
Skaggs was a three-sport athlete at Santa Monica High School, playing baseball, basketball, and football.
His favorite sport was basketball, about which he described himself as “not the greatest dribbler” but being able to shoot.
Tyler Skaggs eric Kay
Eric Kay, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with handcuffs and leg shackles, didn’t react when U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means read his sentence. Kay faced at least 20 years in prison on one of the two counts.
There was no reaction from Skaggs’ widow and mother or members of Kay’s family, including one of his sons who read a statement on his behalf before sentencing. A bailiff had warned observers they would be removed from the court over any outbursts.
Prosecutors presented evidence of Kay, 48, making derogatory comments about Skaggs, his family, prosecutors and jurors in phone calls and emails after he was convicted in February.
There was emotional testimony from both sides in federal court in Fort Worth, about 15 miles from where the Angels were supposed to open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers on July 1, 2019, the day Skaggs was found dead in a suburban Dallas hotel room.
Kay was convicted on one count each of drug distribution resulting in death and drug conspiracy. Means recommended Kay serve his time in his home state of California. He has been in prison in Fort Worth since the conviction.
A coroner’s report said Skaggs, 27, had choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was in his system.
What happened to Tyler Skaggs
A coroner’s report said Skaggs, 27, had choked to death on his vomit and that a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was in his system.
The Angels announced Skaggs’ death with a statement posted on social media.
“It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas,” the team said. “Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of the Angels Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this devastating time.”
Police responded to a call of an unconscious man in a hotel room in Southlake, Texas, and rescuers pronounced Skaggs dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected and an investigation is ongoing, police said.
A Southlake police spokesperson said “suicide is not suspected,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler told reporters it’s a “tragic day for everybody.”
“He had a long life ahead of him, and now that’s gone,” Eppler said. “Everybody grieves in their own way, and everybody has to find peace through this eventually, but it’s just a tragic day for everybody, especially his family.”
Case
Former Angels communications director Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in prison in connection to the drug-overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019.
Kay was found guilty in February for the distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The 27-year-old pitcher was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas on July 1, 2019 with traces of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol in his system. Kay was accused of obtaining oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and distributing them to players.
Also the trial included testimonies from current and former MLB players who said they had received opioid pills from him. These players included Matt Harvey, C.J. Cron, Mike Morin, and Cam Bedrosian. According to testimony and court documents, Kay also used the drugs himself.
This is also reported that Judge Terry Means said he was “dreading” the sentence for Kay, because he thought the 20-year minimum was excessive.
However, the judge changed his mind after recorded phone calls from prison and emails allegedly showed Kay disparaging the jury, Skaggs, his family and prosecutors.
But means added two more years to the sentence for the “refusal to accept responsibility and even be remorseful for something you caused,” as reported by the Washington Post.
“We are very grateful to everyone who worked so hard to investigate and prosecute Eric Kay. Today’s sentencing isn’t about the number of years the defendant received,” read a statement released by Skaggs’ family after the sentencing.