Matthew Perry, the beloved actor who played Chandler Bing in the hit US sitcom Friends, died on October 28th last year at the age of 54, succumbing to the “acute effects of ketamine”. An investigation into his death revealed a “broad underground criminal network” of individuals who took advantage of Perry’s struggles with addiction. The ensuing charges have led to five people being held accountable for their roles in the actor’s death.
Erik Fleming, one of the individuals charged, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming, who was Perry’s street dealer, sourced the ketamine from Jasveen Sangha, also known as “the ketamine queen”, who is set to face trial next year. The ketamine supplied by Sangha proved to be the fatal dose that claimed Perry’s life.
Salvador Plasencia, a doctor who allegedly used Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa to distribute ketamine to the actor, has also been charged. Iwamasa, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine causing death, admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training. His sentencing is set for November 6th. Mark Chavez, another doctor, became the last defendant to admit to conspiring to distribute ketamine following Perry’s death.
Matthew Perry (Image via Getty)
Perry’s case highlights the dangers of addiction and the unscrupulous individuals who prey on vulnerable individuals seeking help. The actor had been open about his struggles with substance abuse and addiction, setting up a sober living facility for men with similar issues. After his death, a foundation was established in his name to support those struggling with addiction.
In a poignant tribute to her son, Perry’s mother Suzanne Morrison recently revealed that he had a “premonition” about his death on one of their final conversations. Morrison recalled how Perry would often say goodbye as if it were a final farewell, and his words on that particular occasion were particularly unsettling. “He came up to me and said, ‘I love you so much and I’m so happy to be with you now'”, Morrison said, tears welling up in her eyes. “It was almost as though it was a premonition or something. I didn’t think about it at the time but I thought, ‘How long has it been since we’ve had a conversation like that? It’s been years’.”
Morrison added that her son had seemed to sense an “inevitability” about his fate, and yet, he was not frightened. Instead, he reassured her that he was at peace. This haunting conversation serves as a stark reminder of Perry’s tragic demise and the devastating consequences of addiction. The actor’s legacy lives on through his work and the good deeds he accomplished in his lifetime, but his untimely passing serves as a chilling warning to the dangers of substance abuse and the underworld that lurks beneath.
