BREAKING: In a shocking turn of events, Tim Mead, former head of communications for the Los Angeles Angels, testified today in a wrongful death civil suit that he searched the desk of ex-employee Eric Kay multiple times for drugs. This admission came on the first day of testimony in the case brought by Tyler Skaggs‘ family, following the pitcher’s tragic death in 2019.
Mead revealed he conducted these searches in the final years of Kay’s tenure with the team, particularly looking for “illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia.” Kay, who was convicted in 2022 for supplying Skaggs with a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his overdose, is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence.
During the testimony, Mead stated, “Three times we went through Eric’s drawers in his desk to look for what it was, I don’t know, but look for a syringe or powder or cutting tool.” He expressed relief at not finding anything but acknowledged his suspicions regarding Kay’s behavior. Despite his concerns, Mead maintained he believed Kay was mismanaging prescription medication linked to mental health issues.
The courtroom was tense as Mead’s testimony unfolded. He recounted numerous incidents leading up to Skaggs’ death, including Kay’s hospitalization in 2018 due to alarming behavior at an Angels game. “It was the worst I’d seen Kay,” Mead admitted, acknowledging there were problems he couldn’t manage alone.
Legal battles intensified when lead attorney Rusty Hardin pressed Mead on whether he played God in deciding Kay’s fate. Mead firmly replied, “I tried to help an individual and his family.” However, Hardin countered, highlighting the unreported incidents that reflected Kay’s troubling behavior.
Hardin emphasized the gravity of Mead’s decisions, referencing a failed intervention attempt in 2017 and other alarming behaviors that went unreported. Mead acknowledged that he reached out to the Angels’ employee assistance program but did not initiate a drug test for Kay, stating he didn’t feel it was necessary until Kay began dealing with the program.
As the testimony progressed, tensions mounted between Mead and Hardin. When asked if Kay’s actions ever violated the Angels’ drug policy, Mead confirmed, “Yes sir.”
The Skaggs family is seeking $118 million in lost wages plus additional damages from the Angels, highlighting the financial and emotional toll of their loss. The trial is set to continue on Friday, July 15, 2023 in Orange County Superior Court, with more revelations expected as the case unfolds.
As the legal battle intensifies, the impact of these revelations resonates deeply within the baseball community and beyond, raising pressing questions about player safety and organizational responsibility in the face of addiction and mental health crises. Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.