A toxicology report released Friday revealed that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died from choking on his own vomit while under the influence of opioids and alcohol.
The report, released by the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office via Maria Torres and Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, ruled Skaggs’ cause of death as being the result of “alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone intoxication with terminal aspiration of gastric contents.”
In a statement, Skaggs’ family announced they’d hired an attorney to determine how Skaggs obtained the drugs, and suggested that an Angels employee may have had a hand in it.
“We are heartbroken to learn that the passing of our beloved Tyler was the result of a combination of dangerous drugs and alcohol,” the statement read. “That is completely out of character for someone who worked so hard to become a Major League Baseball player and had a very promising future in the game he loved so much.
“We are grateful for the work of the detectives in the Southlake Police Department and their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tyler’s death. We were shocked to learn that it may involve an employee of the Los Angeles Angels. We will not rest until we learn the truth about how Tyler came into possession of these narcotics, including who supplied them. To that end, we have hired attorney Rusty Hardin to assist us.”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is similar to, but more powerful than morphine. The amount found in Skaggs’ system was said to be “significant, but not outrageously high,” according to experts surveyed by the L.A. Times. The autopsy suggested that the fentanyl was taken not long before death.
The tests also revealed the presence of oxycodone as well. Both drugs are prohibited under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room on July 1, with the Angels on a road trip to face the Texas Rangers. He was only 27 years old.
