As the world mourns the first anniversary of beloved actor Matthew Perry’s tragic death, we’re taking a look at where the investigation lies today.
On October 28, 2023, Matthew Perry was found dead inside his hot tub of his Los Angeles home at the age of 54 years old. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office said that Matthew died from “acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and coronary artery disease being listed as contributing factors.”
Ahead of his death, Matthew wrote a memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing where he detailed his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. And on the night of his untimely death, Matthew was injected with three doses of ketamine from his assistant that ultimately led to his drowning. Since then five people were charged in connection to his death including his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Erik Fleming, Dr. Mark Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and Jasveen Sangha, aka The Ketamine Queen.
Matthew Perry’s haunting final words as death investigation remains open a year later
Who is Dr. Mark Chavez? Everything you need to know about doctor who pleaded guilty in Matthew Perry death case
What has happened to those accused in Matthew Perry’s death prob?
After the five were arrested in connection with Perry’s death, new details emerged surrounding the circumstances of his passing including text messages between Dr. Plasencia and Dr. Chávez who allegedly overcharged the star for ketamine. In the leaked texts, the pair confessed to selling Perry vials of ketamine that cost as little as $12 for more than $2,000.
On the day of the Friends actor’s death, Dr. Iwamasa confessed to injecting Matthew with ketamine up to three times and claimed that he had administered it six to eight times a day on other occasions. Dr. Iwamasa is now facing a potential 15-year prison sentence and has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. The doctor’s court hearing is scheduled for November 6.
As for Dr. Chavez, he has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and is facing up to 10 years in prison. According to court documents, the 54-year-old doctor who had previously run a ketamine clinic, confessed to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia. Chavez also admitted to obtaining the drug from his former medical center after he submitted a fake prescription, using the name of a former patient. Chavez’ court hearing is set for next year on April 2, 2025.
Erik Fleming has also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming has confessed to disturbing the ketamine that killed Matthew. He also admitted to obtaining the ketamine from his source, Sangha, and to distributing 50 vials to the actor’s live-in assistant Iwamasa. Fleming is facing up to 25 years in prison and his court hearing will take place this week on Wednesday, October 30.
The two people charged that are pleading not guilty to the charges are Jasveen Sangha and Salvador Plasencia. Sangha aka the “Ketamine Queen” allegedly operated a massive ketamine and methamphetamine warehouse in North Hollywood, California. She is facing nine charges that could potentially lead to a life-long prison sentence. These charges include conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Sangha’s court hearing is set for March 4, 2025.
As for Dr. Salvador Plasencia, he is being accused of operating a clinic in Calabasas, California and allegedly attempting to be Matthew’s only supplier of ketamine. The doctor, who has now had his license revoked, is facing nine charges and could potentially face up to 120 years in prison.
These nine charges include seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation. Plasencia will be in a joint trial with Sangha and will also be tried on March 4, 2025.
What has Matthew Perry’s mother said about his tragic death?
Just ahead of Matthew’s heartbreaking death, his mother Suzanne Morrison opened up about the conversations she shared with her son just before his death. In a preview for an upcoming interview on the Today show, Morrison shared one heart-to-heart she experienced with Matthew that sparked fears for his future.
Speaking on one of the final conversations she had with Matthew, Morrison said: “He came up to me and he said, ‘I love you so much and Im so happy to be with you now.’ It was almost as though it was a premonition or something. I didnt think about it at the time but I thought, ‘How long has it been since weve had a conversation like that. Its been years.'”
She went on to add: “I think there was something. There was an inevitability to what was going to happen next to him, and he felt it very strongly. But he said, ‘Im not frightened anymore.’ And it worried me.”
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.
All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team.
Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook to make sure you’re not missing out.
DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.