Matthew Perry's final days were marked by a tragic spiral into addiction, with the "Friends" star ultimately succumbing to the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic that has increasingly been misused as a recreational drug. Newly released court documents, following the arrests of five individuals in connection with his death, paint a harrowing picture of Perry's last moments and the events that led to his untimely demise.
Perry, who passed away on October 28, 2022, at the age of 54, spent his final hours in the company of his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. According to the documents, Perry's last words to Iwamasa were a chilling request: "Shoot me up with a big one," referring to another dose of ketamine. Shortly thereafter, Perry was found face down in his jacuzzi, a tragic end for the beloved actor.
The investigation into Perry's death has led to the indictment of five individuals, including Iwamasa, who has since pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. Among the accused are also two doctors, Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, both of whom allegedly played key roles in providing Perry with the drugs that ultimately led to his death.
The documents reveal that Perry had been introduced to Plasencia in September 2022, just weeks before his death. Plasencia, who was supplied with ketamine by Chavez, reportedly taught Iwamasa how to administer the drug to Perry. In the days leading up to Perry's death, Iwamasa injected the actor with ketamine multiple times daily, according to the plea agreement. Perry had previously experienced adverse reactions to the drug, including an incident on October 12 when a large dose caused his body to seize up, rendering him unable to move or speak.
Despite these dangerous reactions, Perry's addiction spiraled out of control. Iwamasa, under Perry's direction, sought additional sources of ketamine, turning to a middleman named Erik Fleming, who connected him with Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen." Sangha allegedly operated a stash house in North Hollywood, where she manufactured and stored controlled substances, including ketamine and methamphetamine. Over the course of October, Fleming delivered multiple vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, who administered the drug to Perry in increasingly large doses.
The court documents also shed light on the disturbing motivations of those involved. In one exchange, Plasencia texted Chavez, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," reflecting the callousness with which they viewed Perry's addiction. This underground network, as described by U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, exploited Perry's vulnerability for financial gain, ultimately leading to his death.
Perry's death was initially attributed to an apparent drowning, but his autopsy later revealed that the cause was the acute effects of ketamine, compounded by coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication often used to treat opioid addiction. The toxicology report confirmed that the high levels of ketamine in Perry's system were the primary cause of his death.
The arrests and subsequent charges against those involved have brought some measure of justice, but the details of Perry's final days serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of drug addiction and the predatory behavior of those who seek to profit from it. The case also underscores the growing misuse of ketamine, a drug that, while used legally in controlled medical settings, has found its way into the hands of those seeking its psychoactive effects.
As the legal proceedings continue, Perry's family, friends, and fans are left to mourn a man who brought joy to millions but whose life was tragically cut short. The Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills became a place of reflection for those who knew Perry, as they gathered in early November 2022 to remember the actor who had become a household name through his role on "Friends."
