Current:Home > ContactMatthew Perry Couldn't Speak or Move Due to Ketamine Episode Days Before Death -Pinnacle Profit Strategies
Matthew Perry Couldn't Speak or Move Due to Ketamine Episode Days Before Death
Chainkeen Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 02:36:51
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! (284)
Related
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Pope Francis apologizes after being quoted using homophobic slur
- The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits inches up, but layoffs remain low
- BHP Group drops its bid for Anglo American, ending plans to create a global mining giant
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Google to invest $2 billion in Malaysian data center and cloud hub
- US Olympic pairs figure skating coach Dalilah Sappenfield banned for life for misconduct
- Where Vanderpump Rules' Breakout Star Ann Maddox Stands With Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix Today
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- 'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin says book adaptations almost always 'make it worse'
Ranking
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- House Ethics Committee investigating indicted Rep. Henry Cuellar
- Gypsy Rose Blanchard Shares When She Knew Former Fiancé Ken Urker Was The One
- Xi pledges more Gaza aid and talks trade at summit with Arab leaders
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Is 'color analysis' real? I put the viral TikTok phenomenon to the test − and was shocked.
- Syria’s main insurgent group blasts the US Embassy over its criticism of crackdown on protesters
- IRS makes free tax return program permanent and is asking all states to join in 2025
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Audra McDonald to make Broadway return as lead in 'Gypsy': 'It scares me to death'
Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley says he didn't see 'a need for a break'
Elections are not wasted on the young in EU. Some nations allow 16-year-olds to decide in June polls
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Amazon gets FAA approval allowing it to expand drone deliveries for online orders
Sheriff denies that officers responding to Maine mass shooting had been drinking
'Game of Thrones' author George R.R. Martin says book adaptations almost always 'make it worse'