Ex-wife of Eric Kay says she saw Angels players passing out pills on team plane

SANTA ANA, Calif. — The ex-wife of imprisoned former Angels communications director Eric Kay testified on Monday that she witnessed players trading pills on the team’s private charter.

Camela Kay appeared in court on Monday in the wrongful death civil trial brought by the family of Tyler Skaggs against the Los Angeles Angels. And her early testimony was in direct contrast to testimony provided by Angels employees earlier in the trial.

Eric Kay is currently serving 22 years in federal prison for providing the fentanyl laced pill that led to Skaggs’ death on July 1, 2019. Camela testified on Monday while under subpoena by Skaggs attorneys, noting that she did not want to be in court. She was the first witness who was not employed by the Angels, either now or in the past.

“Did Eric ever share with you in 2017 that certain players were passing out medication on the plane?” Skaggs attorney Leah Graham asked Camela, to which she said yes.

She was then asked if she observed it herself, to which Camela said, “I had seen them passing out pills and drinking excessively.” The pills, she said, were Xanax and Percocet.

There were objections to nearly every question by Angels’ attorney, Todd Theodora, who argued that the questions were speculative and lacked foundation. Camela was asked again if she personally witnessed pills being exchanged by players.

“No,” Camela initially responded, but she then went on to say that she had: “They keep you away, but you can see what’s going on behind you,” she said. “When you get up to go to the bathroom.” The judge overruled an Angels’ objection, saying that Camela had witnessed the behavior firsthand.

Details about who specifically was providing those pills were not brought up. Camela also said that her husband had marijuana vape pens in their home in 2017, and that those were not for his own use. “Eric told me they were for the players,” Camela said.

Camela also testified that, to her knowledge, her husband was never diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which has been an important element of the Angels attorneys defense. Instead, she said, Eric told her that he was taking drugs like oxycodone and Vicodin to mask his mental issues, and continue his work uninterrupted. She testified to her belief that Kay was not taking prescribed medication for any mental disorders.

Angels lawyers have questioned witnesses on their belief that Kay was not addicted to drugs, but simply working through bipolar disorder.

Camela provided testimony that contrasted what ex-Angels VP for communications Tim Mead and current traveling secretary Tom Taylor said under oath. Both Mead and Taylor testified that they did not recall a 2013 conversation in which Eric told them, and Camela, that he had developed a five-pill-a-day Vicodin addiction.

Camela said this admission from Eric happened in their New York hotel room, following an incident in the Yankee Stadium press box. Eric was driven to the hotel on the team bus, and left the game early, Camela said.

Mead and Taylor also both denied knowledge of an Oct. 2, 2017, incident in which Mead found approximately 60 pills split up into six or seven baggies, found in Eric’s shoebox. This discovery allegedly happened the day after a failed intervention for Eric. Mead said he did not recall finding the drugs. Taylor said it didn’t happen.

Camela testified that it did happen, and that Taylor was made aware when Mead placed the drugs on the table near him.

“I was shocked,” she testified. “I questioned him and asked him, where did you get those.”

Camela said that Taylor and Mead were in agreement about trying to get Eric help at the time — and set Camela up with human resources representative Cecilia Schenider, who offered help in getting Eric into rehabilitation.

Graham, the Skaggs attorney, showed Camela text messages between her and Schneider about Eric going to outpatient rehabilitation. Schneider even provided information on a specific center called Rehab Pavilion in October 2017. Camela said it was for drug rehabilitation, but noted that, to her knowledge, her husband did not attend rehab.

Notably, Camela asked Schneider on Oct. 2, 2017, if her husband’s job was in jeopardy. Schneider responded by saying, “his job is not in jeopardy” and that there were options to get Eric help. Schneider’s deposition will be played later on the trial.

Angels attorneys have yet to cross-examine Camela. She was taken out of order as a witness due to her work schedule. Matt Birch, who was in the middle of testifying on Friday, will return on Monday. The Angels objected to Camela testifying out of order, but the judge ruled with the Skaggs side.

This story will be updated.