DALLAS (KRLD) - A former member of the LA Angels baseball team's front office has been charged in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Federal prosecutors say former communications director Eric Kay has been charged with conspiracy to distribute a mixture containing detectable amounts of fentanyl. He was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton at the Mahon Federal Courthouse Friday morning, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.
Skaggs was found dead in his room at the Southlake Town Square Hilton July 1, 2019. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office later determined that Mr. Skaggs had a mixture of ethanol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system at the time of his death; it was later ascertained that but for the fentanyl, Mr. Skaggs would not have died the statement said.
"Inside the hotel room investigators discovered a number of pills, including a single blue pill with the markings M/30" said Cox "Experts later determined that the pill, which closely resembled a 30-milligram oxycodone tablet, had been laced with fentanyl. It wasn't prescription oxy at all. It was a deadly counterfeit."
Kay was the one who furnished the pills, and had a history of providing pills, said Cox
Skaggs had persevered through injuries to become a valuable pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels
Just prior to the trip to the Rangers-Angels series, Skaggs had posted a photo of himself and teammates in cowboy hats.
The 27-year-old pitcher was found unresponsive in his Texas hotel room, stunning the Major League Baseball community and leading to the postponement of Los Angeles' series opener against the Rangers.
Skaggs was "an important part of the Angels Family," the team said in a statement at the time.
Police initially said they were investigating but no foul play was suspected. Skaggs was pronounced dead at the scene.
Skaggs, who would have turned 28 the next week, had been a regular in the Angels' starting rotation since late 2016, when the left-hander returned from Tommy John surgery. He struggled with injuries repeatedly in that time but was 7-7 with a 4.29 ERA in 15 starts this season to help an injury-plagued rotation.
Kay could face up to 20-years in federal prison if convicted.