Matthew Perry's Assistant, 2 Doctors, and More Arrested in Connection to Actor's Death
Multiple people have finally been arrested in connection with Matthew Perry's 2023 death, including two doctors.
The U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California revealed on Aug. 15 that five people were charged in connection with the actor's death in total, including two doctors and his assistant, who found him deceased in his at-home jacuzzi on Saturday, Oct. 28
One physician, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and a dealer, Jasveen Sangha, 41, known as the "Ketamine Queen" were arrested on the 15th, each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine "in an 18-count superseding indictment returned on Wednesday with distributing ketamine to Perry during the final weeks of the actor’s life."
The Ketamine Queen was also charged with "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."
Meanwhile, his assistant is said to have helped orchestrate the purchases, as well as the injections—at least one of which he provided the actor on the day he died. The dealers were reportedly made aware that "Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiraling out of control" at least a week prior to his passing but continued to sell the drug to him anyway. After news of his death broke, one texted, “Delete all our messages.”
"These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.
According to the office's press release, messages between two of the defendants also read, "I wonder how much this moron will pay,” and, “Lets [sic] find out.”
While Perry had been receiving formal ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression before he died, the ketamine detected in his toxicology reports was not prescribed by a doctor, as his last appointment occurred over a week prior to his death.
TMZ reported earlier on Thursday, Aug. 15, that multiple agencies worked together to execute search warrants, which led to the seizure of computers, phones and other electronics that offered new evidence into who supplied the Friends star with the ketamine detected in his system at the time of death.
Perry's cause of death was originally ruled accidental, with the "acute effects of ketamine," which some suspect he was self-medicating with in between formal appointments, seemingly leading to the actor's drowning in his hot tub at home, but the Los Angeles Police Department later opened an investigation into his death—and the source of the controlled substance.
The department teamed up with the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspector to track down those responsible for the arrangement and delivery of the drug.
Next: Matthew Perry's Stepfather, 'Dateline's Keith Morrison, Gives Insight Into Late Actor's Final Days
