Current:Home > FinanceMatthew Perry Couldn't Speak or Move Due to Ketamine Episode Days Before Death -BrightFutureFinance
Matthew Perry Couldn't Speak or Move Due to Ketamine Episode Days Before Death
View
Date:2025-04-18 06:43:30
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! (64529)
Related
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- More than 20 dead after Memorial Day weekend storms batter multiple US states: Updates
- Vest Tops Are Everywhere Right Now, Shop the Trend
- Man charged with hate crimes after series of NYC street attacks
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Body found after person went missing trying to swim from Virginia to Maryland, officials say
- Amtrak changes schedule in the Northeast Corridor due to heat
- Negro Leagues' statistics will be incorporated into Major League Baseball’s historical records on Wednesday
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Florida coach Billy Napier talks Jaden Rashada lawsuit and why he is 'comfortable' with actions
Ranking
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- House Democrats expected to vote on $53.1B budget as Republicans complains of overspending
- Need a book club book? These unforgettable titles are sure to spark discussion and debate
- Train's Pat Monahan on the 'tough' period before success, new song 'Long Yellow Dress'
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- UC student workers expand strike to two more campuses as they demand amnesty for protestors
- Pennsylvania’s Fracking Wastewater Contains a ‘Shocking’ Amount of the Critical Clean Energy Mineral Lithium
- Prosecutors build their case at bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez with emails and texts
Recommendation
Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
Ryan Salame, part of the ‘inner circle’ at collapsed crypto exchange FTX, sentenced to prison
Jason Kelce defends wife Kylie after commenter calls her a bad 'homemaker'
Albert Ruddy, Oscar-winning producer of The Godfather, dies at 94
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Jan. 6 officers to campaign for Biden in battleground states
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Top Dollar
Elon Musk's xAI startup raises $24 billion in funding