Following Matthew Perry’s death in October 2023, it was ruled an accident, with the actor dying from the acute effects of ketamine. Perry had been receiving ketamine infusions to treat depression and anxiety. However, questions arose about why Perry had ketamine in his system when his last infusion was over a week before his death. This led to an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department in May 2024, looking into how Perry obtained the ketamine found in his system.
The investigation revealed a timeline of events leading up to Perry’s death. In September 2023, Dr. Salvador Plasencia contacted Dr. Mark Chavez about purchasing ketamine to sell to the actor. Plasencia then sold ketamine to Perry’s former personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and taught him how to administer the drug. Over the following weeks, various individuals, including Jasveen Sangha and Erik Fleming, were involved in the distribution of ketamine to Perry.
On October 28, 2023, Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home and was pronounced dead on the same day. Court documents alleged that Iwamasa administered multiple injections of ketamine to Perry, ultimately leading to his death. Plasencia provided the syringes, and Sangha instructed Fleming to distance themselves from selling ketamine to Perry. It was also revealed that Perry had received at least six injections of ketamine in the days leading up to his death.
In December 2023, a toxicology report confirmed that Perry’s cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine, ruling it as an accident. Factors such as drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine were also cited. In August 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced charges against individuals involved in Perry’s death, including Plasencia and Sangha for conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, admitting to distributing the substance that killed Perry. Iwamasa also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, admitting to injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training.
The case drew attention to the dangers of drug dealers selling substances for profit at the expense of individuals’ well-being. United States Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized holding drug dealers accountable for the deaths they cause, sending a clear message about the consequences of such actions. The investigation into Matthew Perry’s death shed light on the illicit distribution of ketamine and the tragic consequences that can result from such activities. The legal actions taken against those involved served as a warning about the serious repercussions of engaging in illegal drug distribution.
