Trigger warning: This article contains references to drug addiction
According to new details shared by investigating authorities, Matthew Perry asked his assistant to give him multiple doses of ketamine on October 28, 2023, the day he died.
At 8:30 a.m. that morning, his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, gave him his first dose of ketamine, People reports, citing a plea agreement Iwamasa made with the Justice Department. At 12:45 a.m., he again injected Perry while the Friends actor was watching a movie in his home, according to the publication. According to the cited plea agreement, Perry asked for another dose 40 minutes after the second dose.
Perry told his assistant, “Give me a bigger shot,” and asked her to prepare his hot tub. According to the agreement, Perry was given the third dose while he was near or in his jacuzzi. Iwamasa reportedly left the house to run some errands and returned to find Perry dead in the soaking tub.
Also read: According to reports, Matthew Perry had over US$1.5 million in his personal account at the time of his death.
Iwamasa is one of five defendants the DOJ has charged in connection with Perry’s death, which according to his autopsy report was the result of the “acute effects” of ketamine. For those who don’t know, the drug is a controlled anesthetic used to treat anxiety and depression. Perry had been taking ketamine therapy to treat the same conditions for some time under the supervision of his doctors in the months before his death. Authorities did not charge his regular doctors.
The actor’s assistant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, which caused the actor’s death. She admitted to injecting the actor with ketamine “repeatedly” in the days before his death. According to the plea agreement, she gave Perry six to eight doses of ketamine daily between October 24 and October 27.
Also read: Throwback: Jennifer Aniston once said she was texting Friends co-star Matthew Perry hours before his tragic death
Jasveen Sangha, aka the Ketamine Queen, and Dr. Salvador Plascencia are also charged in Perry’s death, according to prosecutors. Both have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. Both face one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. According to records, Sangha is also charged with one count of maintaining a drug 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, according to People.
Eric Fleming, Perry’s colleague and the fourth defendant in the case, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death. Meanwhile, the final defendant, Dr. Mark Chavez, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, the DOJ said.
During a press conference announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said that Perry had relapsed into drug addiction shortly before his death, and that these defendants took advantage of his addiction problems to “enrich themselves.”
If you know someone who is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the authorities and report it. There are many helplines available for this.
Also read: ‘We expect justice’: Keith Morrison speaks out on stepson Matthew Perry’s tragic death, cites law enforcement’s promptness
