Breakthrough in investigations into death of Matthew Perrythe actor much loved for playing the role of Chandler Bing in the TV series FriendsFive people have been arrested on suspicion of supplying him with the ketamine that led to his death in October at the age of 54, despite knowing he was addicted to drugs: his personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasafrom an acquaintance of the star, Erik Flemingof two doctors, Salvador Plasencia And Mark Chavezand the drug dealer Jasveen Sanghaknown as the “Ketamine Queen” of Los Angeles. The charges include conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and tampering with and falsifying records relating to a federal investigation.
The investigation led to the seizure of PCs, telephones and other personal objects, inside which messages were found discussing the actor, the ketamine that he wanted to buy, the delivery methods and the price. These messages provided crucial evidence for investigators, directly linking the arrestees to the supply of the narcotic substance to Perry. According to documents filed by prosecutors, some of the people involved used encrypted messaging applications and coded language to discuss drug trafficking, including referring to bottles of ketamine as “Dr Pepper,” “cans,” and “bots.”
Perry was found dead in 2023, unconscious, in the hot tub of his Los Angeles mansion. The autopsy revealed that the actor had died by drowning due to the “acute effects of ketamine“. In the weeks before his death, Perry was undergoing therapy based on that substance to treat depression, under strict medical supervision and with carefully calibrated doses. However, the night of the drowning, the situation was different. The investigation focused on the narcotic substance, since Perry had taken a dose of ketamine outside of his therapeutic regimen. The autopsy revealed unusually high levels of this drug in his blood, comparable to those of a general anesthesia. Perry’s entire life was marked by a long struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction, as he himself recounted in his autobiography.
