Court documents reveal a horrifying account of Friends star Matthew Perry's final hours before he was found dead in his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.
On Thursday (August 15), five suspects were arrested amidst a drug investigation into the late actor's death.
One of the suspects was Perry's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who helped obtain ketamine for the actor and administered it to him despite not having any medical training.
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In a plea agreement that Iwamasa signed with court officials, it was revealed that he administered a shot of ketamine to the actor the morning of October 28 at around 8:30 am.
About four hours later, he injected another dose while Perry was watching a movie at home.
According to the court papers, it was only about 40 minutes later that Perry asked for another ketamine shot, with Iwamasa alleging that the actor told him, "Shoot me up with a big one."
Iwamasa proceeded to give the actor his third shot of the day, in as little as six hours, and reportedly left the house after to run some errands.
When he returned, he found Perry face down in his hot tub, with the actor being pronounced dead shortly after.
Iwamasa had been working for the actor since 1994, and told authorities that he administered at least 27 shots of ketamine in the last five days of his life alone.
Prosecutors believe that the last three shots given to Perry the day of his passing resulted in his 'death and serious bodily injury.'
Prior to his death, Perry had been undergoing weeks of ketamine therapy for depression.
However, law enforcement says that it appeared the actor became increasingly reliant on the drug in his last days, and was willing to source it from illegal means after doctors at a local clinic refused to increase his dosage.
Court papers reveal that there were several moments where Perry experienced negative reactions from the drug, including one instance where Iwamasa found him unconscious at home, unable to speak or move.
The seven-month investigation has resulted in an indictment where prosecutors have accused Iwamasa and four other suspects of enabling Perry's ketamine use. They believe the suspects are particularly guilty as they were all aware of Perry's past history with drug abuse and addiction, and his attempts at staying sober.
The four other suspects charged in the case are:
- Jasveen Sangha, a dealer known as 'The Ketamine Queen,' who's been accused of selling Perry the dose of ketamine that killed him.
- Dr Salvador Plasencia, a licensed medical doctor who allegedly distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry.
- Dr Mark Chavez, another licensed medical doctor who helped obtain the ketamine.
- Erik Fleming, a 'broker' and acquaintance of Perry's who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (313) 209-9137 24/7, or contact them through their website.
Topics: Matthew Perry
Yasmeen Hamadeh