Five Arrested in Connection to Matthew Perry's Death
Five people were arrested and charged on Thursday in connection with the months-long investigation into the death of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry last year from 'acute effects' of ketamine....
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Facts
- Five people were arrested and charged on Thursday in connection with the months-long investigation into the death of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry last year from 'acute effects' of ketamine.[1]
- Three of them, including his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Dr. Mark Chavez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, and two others — Jasveen Sangha, alias 'The Ketamine Queen,' and Dr. Salvador Plasencia — were set to be arraigned later on Thursday.[2]
- Dr. Plasencia could face up to 10 years in prison for each drug-related count and up to 20 years for each count of falsifying records. If convicted of all charges, Sangha could face life in prison. The remaining three face maximum sentences ranging from 10 to 25 years.[3]
- The arrests come three months after multiple law enforcement agencies launched a probe to determine how Perry, who was reportedly receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, obtained non-prescribed amounts of the drug.[4][5]
- Perry died on Oct. 28, 2023, at age 54, after drowning in a hot tub at his residence. Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office later reported that high levels of ketamine in his system caused cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.[5][4]
- Page Six reported last month, citing a former CIA and FBI special agent, that the investigation into Perry's fatal ketamine overdose was poised to expose Hollywood drug dealing rings.[6]
Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]United States Department of Justice, [3]Daily Mail, [4]Newsweek, [5]TMZ and [6]Page Six.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by The Hollywood Reporter. Despite last year's fatal overdose of Matthew Perry triggering panic at infusion centers in Los Angeles and prompting safety worries among patients, this tragedy has actually nothing to do with ketamine medical treatment.
- Narrative B, as provided by Washington Post. The FDA approved ketamine as a general anesthetic in 1970, so it would be odd to deny that this drug can be safe and even highly effective if used under careful medical supervision. The death of Matthew Perry, however, demonstrates the risks of individuals using ketamine at home and alone.
