Background

Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing on the TV show "Friends," was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his home in Los Angeles on Oct. 28, 2023. The paramedics called to the scene immediately declared him dead. In December, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the actor died from "the acute effects of ketamine."

Ketamine is an anesthetic with psychedelic properties that is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. According to Perry's autopsy report, the level of ketamine found in his blood was in the range of the amount used for general anesthesia in surgery.

People close to Perry told investigators at the coroner's office that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death. However, the medical examiner said that Perry's last treatment a week ago would not explain the levels of the drug in his blood. Typically, ketamine is metabolized by the body in a few hours.

In May, Los Angeles police said they were working with DEA and the United States Postal Inspection Service to investigate why Perry had so much ketamine in his system. According to CNN, Perry had struggled with drug addiction for decades, detailing his experiences in his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing."

DOJ charges 5 people in connection to Perry's death

Last week, DOJ charged five people, including two doctors, in connection with Perry's death last October.

According to Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, investigators believe Perry "fell back into addiction" last fall and that a network of people "cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being."

Two doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, supplied Perry with ketamine, Estrada said. Plasencia also administered ketamine to Perry, and the two doctors discussed how much Perry would be willing to pay for the drug.

Other people charged include Erik Fleming, Jasveen Sangha, and Kenneth Iwamasa. Fleming, a movie producer, reached out to drug dealers to buy vials of ketamine on Perry's behalf. Sangha, who authorities call the "Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood, stored and distributed narcotics from her home. Iwamasa was Perry's live-in personal assistant, who injected him with at least 21 shots of ketamine during the last week of his life.

Ketamine "is a drug that must be administered by medical professionals, and the patient must be monitored closely. That did not occur here," Estrada said. "You are playing roulette with other people's lives, just like these five defendants here did to Mr. Perry."

So far, Chavez "has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine," prosecutors said. However, Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to his charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine, and altering and falsifying documents related to the federal investigation.

"Mr. Perry was on ketamine treatment. Medically supervised, medically prescribed. And while the US attorney may disagree with Dr. Plasencia's medical judgment, there was nothing criminal at the time," said attorney Stefan Sacks. "More importantly, the ketamine that was involved in Mr. Perry's passing was not related to Dr. Plasencia."

According to CNN, news of the charges has brought a bit of relief to Keith Morrison, Perry's stepfather, and his family.

"We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew's death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously," the Morrison family said. "We look forward to justice taking its course and we're grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew's death. We're hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message." (Yan/Croft, CNN, 8/18; Associated Press/MedPage Today, 8/15; Robledo, USA Today, 8/16; Jacobs/Stevens, New York Times, 8/16)

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