The wrongful death trial surrounding the tragic passing of former Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs has entered its sixth week, with significant testimony delivered by close family members on Monday. Skaggs’ widow, Carli Skaggs, and his mother, Debbie Hetman, took the stand to shed light on the circumstances leading up to his untimely death in 2019, which has since sparked a high-profile legal battle involving the Los Angeles Angels organization.
Carli Skaggs, who began her relationship with Tyler in 2014, testified that she was aware of Tyler’s past struggles with a Percocet addiction prior to their dating but insisted she did not know he was still using drugs at the time of his death. Tyler Skaggs tragically died after ingesting fentanyl-laced oxycodone that had been supplied by Eric Kay, the Angels’ former communications director. Kay, who has since been convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison, provided Skaggs with the deadly combination of drugs, which was mixed with alcohol, leading to the pitcher’s fatal overdose.
Carli recounted that Tyler’s addiction to Percocet began during his early career with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the early 2010s, a fact she only learned about about a year into their relationship. Despite this knowledge, she maintained that she was unaware of any ongoing drug use. She also revealed some candid details about their relationship, including that Tyler took an ecstasy pill during their honeymoon and that the couple used marijuana together for a period, ceasing such use when they decided to start a family.
During cross-examination, Carli was asked if she could recall any signs or moments that might have indicated Tyler was still using drugs. She firmly responded, “No. And I have racked my brain for something I could have missed,” underscoring her belief that she was not aware of his continued substance abuse. Her testimony painted a picture of a devoted wife who was blindsided by the circumstances of her husband’s death.
Tyler’s mother, Debbie Hetman, also testified during the trial, providing additional insight into the family’s knowledge of Tyler’s struggles and their interactions with the Angels organization. Hetman stated that the Angels never inquired about her son’s past addiction issues and that she would have informed them had they asked. She further testified that she had even requested that Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the surgeon who performed Tyler’s Tommy John surgery in 2014, prescribe a different painkiller due to concerns about his previous addiction. These revelations raised questions about the team’s awareness and handling of Tyler’s medical history and potential vulnerabilities.
The legal battle centers on a significant claim from the Skaggs family, who are seeking $118 million in damages. This amount includes lost earnings from Tyler’s promising baseball career, compensation for pain and suffering, and punitive damages aimed at holding the team accountable. The Los Angeles Angels, however, argue that while the team’s former staff member Eric Kay supplied the drugs, Tyler’s drug use was ultimately a private decision made on his own time. The team denies responsibility for his death, framing it as a personal tragedy unrelated to their conduct or supervision.
Tyler Skaggs was only 27 years old when he was found dead in a Southlake, Texas hotel room shortly before the Angels were scheduled to play the Texas Rangers. His sudden death shocked the baseball community and sparked an ongoing investigation into the circumstances, including the role of Eric Kay and the broader team environment.
Adding further complexity to the case, former New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey admitted during Kay’s criminal trial that he had supplied drugs to Skaggs. Harvey and other Angels players—including C.J. Cron, Mike Morin, and Cam Bedrosian—testified in court that they had also received drugs from Kay. These testimonies painted a picture of a clubhouse culture in which Kay acted as a conduit for drugs, implicating several players and raising questions about the team’s internal controls and oversight.
Mike Trout, the Angels’ star outfielder and three-time MVP, also testified during the civil trial. Trout described how players would pay Eric Kay to perform bizarre stunts, which initially seemed harmless but eventually raised concerns. At one point, a clubhouse attendant suggested the players stop these activities, suspecting that Kay might be using the money for a “bad purpose.” Trout admitted he immediately assumed these funds were being used to buy drugs. Despite his suspicions