Tyler Skaggs used drugs supplied by Matt Harvey night of death, Eric Kay's defense attorney claims in court – The Athletic

By Sam Blum
February 8, 2022Updated 9:39 PM EST
25 Comments

On the first day of former Angels employee Eric Kay's trial in connection to pitcher Tyler Skaggs' death, defense counsel Reagan Wynn said that Skaggs took Percocet just before his death that was provided by former Angels pitcher Matt Harvey.

Wynn said in his opening statement that Kay observed Skaggs with three powdery lines on a surface in Skaggs’ hotel room the night of June 30, 2019. Two were blue, indicating oxycodone, and one was pink. According to Wynn, when Kay asked Skaggs where he received pink pills, Skaggs told him he was given Percocets by Harvey. Skaggs was found dead the following day at age 27.

An autopsy by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office found fentanyl, oxycodone and alcohol in Skaggs’s system, resulting in his choking on vomit.

The defense’s comments came after the prosecution made its opening arguments, which tried to establish a timeline that would prove it was only possible for Kay to have provided Skaggs the fentanyl-laced oxycodone during this interaction.

Since the case is being tried in Texas, the government has to prove that the crimes were committed in Texas. The defense needs to establish reasonable doubt.

The defense argued that Kay did provide oxycodone pills, but that he did so at Angel Stadium earlier that day; that Skaggs had ingested those pills immediately; and that they didn’t have fentanyl. They said Kay did not bring oxycodone with him to Texas.

Harvey is a witness for the prosecution and will likely testify later this week or early next week. Nine other former Angels players have the potential to testify in the case, as well as numerous current and former Angels team employees.

Kay is facing felony counts of distributing counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that led to Skaggs’ death and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute the opioid. He has pleaded not guilty and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

(Photo of Matt Harvey: Ric Tapia / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sam Blum
Aug 30, 2021
Ex-Angels employee Eric Kay faces criminal charges in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Sam Blum
Yesterday
Eric Kay has pleaded not guilty and could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
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Sam Blum
Aug 30, 2021
Ex-Angels employee Eric Kay faces criminal charges in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Sam Blum
Yesterday
Eric Kay has pleaded not guilty and could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
The Pulse newsletter delivers the day's top sports stories straight to your inbox.
Sign Up Now
2022 Olympics: U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin out of slalom after failing to finish second race
19-game win streak snapped: Auburn likely to drop No. 1 ranking as Arkansas pulls off upset
Indiana suspends 5 players, including 2 starters, vs. Northwestern for 'disciplinary reasons'
Bruins don't expect Tuukka Rask to continue comeback attempt: Sources
Trevor Bauer will not face criminal charges in Los Angeles court system: Sources
Advocacy group files unfair labor practice charges against NCAA, Pac-12, UCLA and USC
Wizards star Bradley Beal to have season-ending surgery for wrist injury
Titans extend contracts of head coach Mike Vrabel, GM Jon Robinson
Patriots re-hire former Giants coach Joe Judge as offensive assistant

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