Police Close to Concluding Matthew Perry’s Death Investigation; Multiple Suspects May Face Charges in Friends Star’s Passing
Trigger Warning: This article contains references to alcohol and drug addiction
Eight months following the passing of Matthew Perry due to “acute effects of ketamine,” law enforcement believes that “multiple people” may be charged in connection to his death. The investigation into Perry’s death is close to wrapping up, as per a report from People Magazine on June 25.
The source also mentioned that the decision to press charges will be made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. However, when approached for comment, the Attorney’s office responded with “no comments” to the publication on Tuesday.
The former Friends star died on October 28 at the age of 54, following an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home in Los Angeles.
ALSO READ: ‘Still Really Hard To Believe’: Lauren Graham Remembers Late ‘Friend And Constant’ Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry’s death prompted a joint LAPD and DEA investigation
An autopsy report from December 2023 revealed that Perry passed away from acute effects of ketamine, a drug used as a dissociative anesthetic. Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, but his last treatment was over a week before his death.
Given that the drug has a short half-life, the presence of ketamine in Perry’s system at the time of death couldn’t have been from the recent infusion therapy.
The exact method of ketamine intake in Perry’s case remains unknown, as stated in his autopsy report. The LAPD, along with the DEA and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has been investigating why Perry had such high ketamine levels in his system when he passed away.
Other contributing factors to his death included coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects, as outlined in the report. Prescription medications and loose pills were also discovered at Perry’s residence during the autopsy.
First responders found Perry already deceased when they arrived, with a bystander having brought his head above water before firefighters removed him from the hot tub, as per Captain Erik Scott from Fox News.
Matthew Perry’s legacy and his struggles with addiction
A year prior to his passing, Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, discussed his battle with addiction in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Perry emphasized the importance of sharing his story when he was in a safe place to avoid relapse and to potentially help others going through similar struggles.
In a 2002 interview, Perry revealed that he got sober not because he wanted to but because he felt like he was on the brink of death. His addiction issues began after an accident in 1997, leading to taking Vicodin and ultimately struggling with alcohol abuse.
Aside from Friends, Perry appeared in various films such as The Whole Nine Yards (2000), Serving Sara (2002), The Ron Clark Story (2006), and 17 Again (2009).
If you know someone dealing with alcohol or substance abuse, please reach out to the authorities for help. There are several helplines available for support.
ALSO READ: ‘He Visits Me A Lot’: Courteney Cox Says She Still Senses Late Friends Co-Star Matthew Perry Around Her