Lawsuit alleges Dwayne Haskins was drugged and blackmailed before his death

Pittsburgh Steelers star Dwayne Haskin was allegedly drugged, blackmailed, and robbed before his death according to a new lawsuit filed by the quarterback's family. 

The lawsuit was filed in Broward County and listed four individuals as well as two restaurants, a golf course, and a hotel as defendants involved, ESPN noted. 

On April 11th, an attorney working with Haskin’s family released a brief statement on the 24-year-old’s death alleging that a conspiracy was in the process of being uncovered. 

"It is believed that Dwayne was targeted and drugged as part of a blackmail and robbery conspiracy," Rick Ellsley said, adding that "many questions remain unanswered."

Ellsley noted a key piece of evidence underlying the belief that a larger conspiracy was at play to rob Haksin could be found in the quarterbacks missing possessions. "In fact, his highly expensive watch was stolen from him shortly before his death," Ellsley said. 

The civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of Haskin’s widow, Kalabrya Haskin, and his parents. The family’s attorney noted that the lawsuit was “an important step in the process of uncovering the complete truth about this tragedy."

Dwayne Haskins’ death came as a shock to the sports world. The former quarterback was killed in the early morning hours back on April 9th, 2022, after he was struck by a dump truck trying to cross Florida’s interstate highway according to CBS News. 

Investigators never determine why Haskins was on the highway when he died. But the Broward County Medical Examiner’s toxicology report from Haskins’ autopsy revealed a number of startling facts about his condition at the time of his death.

Two separate blood samples showed that Haskins blood alcohol limit was “three times the legal limit for driving,” according to CBS News, and the quarterback was believed to have been driving on the highway prior to leaving his car after it ran out of gas. 

Ketamine was also found in Haskins’ system according to the medical examiner, though they did not disclose if it was prescribed or it had been used recreationally, CBS News added. 

After running out of fuel on Interstate 595, Haskin left his car. Witnesses said that he was attempting to wave down help on the highway when he was struck by two passing vehicles according to NFL.com. “The report said he died of blunt force trauma.”

However, Haskins’ family doesn’t believe that his death was accidental, and their lawsuit states that responsibility lies with those who drugged Haskin as well as the man that hit him with a dump truck on Interstate 595. 

"The Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Report shows that Dwayne was only feet away from making it safely across the roadway when he was struck and killed by an old dump truck," the lawsuit states. 

"This truck was going faster than the speed limit, carrying excessive cargo, had brake system problems, and was traveling on low tread tires with separated sidewalls." The lawsuit continued. 

The lawsuit added that several other cars were able to avoid Haskins, adding that the truck driver’s phone records had not been unsealed and he “refused to provide a blood sample to the police at the scene and still has not provided the alcohol test results."

According to the Toronto Sun, four of the alleged fourteen defendants include Joey Smith, Karlee Peyton, Wissal Yassine, and Meriem Yassine, though it was also added that “no details on the allegations were listed in the lawsuit.”