Current:Home > MyMatthew Perry Couldn't Speak or Move Due to Ketamine Episode Days Before Death -WealthMap Solutions
Matthew Perry Couldn't Speak or Move Due to Ketamine Episode Days Before Death
View
Date:2025-04-23 06:21:07
Authorities are releasing more details into Matthew Perry's final days after five people were charged in connection to his death.
The Friends alum was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28, with his cause of death later determined to be "acute effects of ketamine" in drug and drowning-related accident.
However, it wasn’t the first time he experienced negative effects of the dissociative anesthetic. Perry had an "adverse medical reaction" to an at-home ketamine injection on Oct. 12, just 16 days before his death, prosecutors said in unsealed Department of Justice documents reviewed by E! News Aug. 16.
Prosecutors alleged defendant Dr. Salvador Plasencia injected the 54-year-old with "a large dose" of the controlled substance at request of the Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, who has also been charged in the case, after the actor had already undergone ketamine infusion therapy from a doctor's office.
The DOJ said the at-home ketamine caused a "significant spike" to Perry's systolic blood pressure, making him "freeze up" so much that he "could not speak or move."
Prosecutors alleged that Plasencia told Iwamasa "something to the effect of: 'let’s not do that again'" following Perry's reaction to the additional dosage, though the assistant continued to purchase ketamine for at-home use in the following days.
Iwamasa has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, per authorities.
Meanwhile, Plasencia is facing one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation. He has not publicly entered a plea.
In Iwamasa's plea agreement obtained by E! News Aug. 16, prosecutors alleged the 59-year-old injected Perry with ketamine obtained through unofficial channels around 8:30 a.m. on the day of his death. They accused Iwamasa of giving Perry two more doses in the span of six hours, before leaving him to run errands.
Iwamasa returned home to find Perry face down in the hot tub, per the filing.
In connection to Perry's death, Jasveen Sangha—a North Hollywood woman who authorities call “The Ketamine Queen"—has also been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Per the DOJ, Erik Fleming—an individual who authorities allege sold ketamine to Iwamasa—and Dr. Mark Chavez—a San Diego-based physician who allegedly sold the drug to Plasencia—have both pleaded guilty to charges relating to Perry's death.
"We allege each of the defendants played a key role in his death by falsely prescribing, selling, or injecting the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s tragic death," Anne Milgram of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in an Aug. 15 statement. “Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (995)
Related
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- When a Retired Scientist Suggested Virginia Weaken Wetlands Protections, the State Said, No Way
- University of Florida president Ben Sasse is resigning after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy
- TikToker Tianna Robillard Accuses Cody Ford of Cheating Before Breaking Off Engagement
- Bodycam footage shows high
- Harvey Weinstein due in NYC courtroom for hearing tied to upcoming retrial
- Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces trade mission to Europe
- The winner in China’s panda diplomacy: the pandas themselves
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Massachusetts lawmakers call on the Pentagon to ground the Osprey again until crash causes are fixed
Ranking
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- Woman dead, her parents hospitalized after hike leads to possible heat exhaustion
- Minneapolis approves officer pay raise years after calls to defund the police
- Netflix’s subscriber and earnings growth gather more momentum as password-sharing crackdown pays off
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Stock market today: Asian shares sink, weighed down by Wall St tech retreat, China policy questions
- Priscilla Presley sues former associates, alleging elder abuse and financial fraud
- Netflix’s subscriber and earnings growth gather more momentum as password-sharing crackdown pays off
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Trump shooter's online activity shows searches of rally site, use of encrypted platforms, officials say
Utah State officially fires football coach Blake Anderson
Shoppers spent $14.2 billion during Amazon's Prime day: Here's what they bought
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dead at 27 After Falling 300 Feet Into Gorge
Did the Trump gunman make a donation to Democrats? Here's what the records show.
The Book Report: Washington Post critic Ron Charles (July 14)