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By Ryan Smith and Billie Schwab Dunn
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There have been multiple arrests in connection with the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, including his assistant and two doctors.
In October 2023, Perry was found dead at his home at the age of 54. In December of that year, it was determined that his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic used as a treatment for depression and pain management.
Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28. Early news reports said that he appeared to have drowned, while other sources said first responders had been called to a cardiac arrest, adding drugs were not found at the scene.
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An autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office later revealed that Perry died from the "acute effects of ketamine" and subsequent drowning. The drug is often used to treat depression and anxiety. The report noted that the high levels of ketamine in his system led to cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression, ultimately ruling his death an accident.
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Law enforcement officials announced in May that they were opening a criminal investigation to find out how Perry got hold of so much of the drug.
"There were trace amounts of ketamine detected in the stomach contents," the autopsy report stated. "He was reported to be receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety."
The ketamine Perry had in his blood at the time of his death "could not be from that infusion therapy, since the drug's half-life is three to four hours, or less," according to the report. Perry's last known treatment was a week and a half before his death.
Law enforcement agencies have issued search warrants and seized computers, phones and other electronic devices to determine who supplied Perry with the drug.
Five people—including two doctors and Perry's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa—have been charged in connection with the actor's death, in what prosecutors have called a "broad underground criminal network."
On the day that Perry died, the actor received several injections of ketamine from Iwamasa, according to prosecutors. Iwamasa found Perry dead hours later.
Per U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, Perry sought the drug after his regular doctors, who were not charged, refused to give him more than his prescribed doses.
"We are not talking about legitimate ketamine treatment," said Estrada on Thursday. "We're talking about two doctors who abused the trust they had, abused their licenses to put another person's life at risk."
As well as Iwamasa, those revealed to have been arrested are Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia. Erik Fleming, a friend of Perry, and Jasveen Sangha—an alleged drug dealer known as the "Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles," according to authorities—were also arrested.
Authorities claimed these five people all "falsely prescribed, sold or injected the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry's tragic death."
Plasencia and Chavez allegedly charged Perry $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that would cost Chavez about $12. As his addiction grew, Perry went to the streets for his supply where he ultimately bought the drugs that resulted in his death.
"Plasencia saw this as an opportunity to profit off of Mr. Perry. He wrote in a text message in September 2023, 'I wonder how much this moron will pay,'" officials reported.
From September to October 2023, officials say Perry paid the doctors $55,000 in cash in exchange for 20 vials of ketamine which Iwamasa would administer to the actor.
Newsweek emailed the Los Angeles Police Department for comment Thursday.
Perry openly spoke about his addiction to alcohol and prescription medication, writing in his memoir that he spent $9 million trying to get sober. In 2018, Perry was given a 2 percent chance of survival after his colon ruptured due to opioid abuse. He recovered, but was in a coma for two weeks and needed to use a colostomy bag for nine months.
A private funeral, which was attended by all five of Perry's Friends co-stars, was held at the Forest Lawn Church of the Hills in Los Angeles on Friday, November 3.
Update 08/15/24, 10:32 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further context and information.
Update 08/16/24, 7:20 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further information.
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