Matthew Perry: How did the investigation unfold into death of Friends actor?

It is claimed that he turned to ‘unscrupulous doctors who saw Perry as a way to make quick money’

Matthew Perry death (PA Archive)

An investigation into Matthew Perry’s death from an accidental ketamine overdose last October has led to five people including his assistant and two doctors being charged.

It is claimed that Perry first went to a clinic for depression and anxiety, and became “addicted to intravenous ketamine”, and when he asked for an increased dosage, he was refused.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) claims he then turned to “unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust”.

Here is a look at how events unfolded:

November 2022: Perry releases the book Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, in which he says he was on the brink of death, aged 49, when his colon burst from drug abuse. Perry also discloses he spent two weeks in a coma and five months in hospital and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months. He says he is in “sobriety”.

Actor Matthew Perry (Myung Jung Kim/PA) (PA Archive)

Late September 2023: According to the indictment, Dr Salvador Plasencia, 42, of Santa Monica, learned Perry “was interested in obtaining ketamine”. Plasencia then allegedly contacted Dr Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, to supply Perry with the anaesthetic medication.

September and October: It is claimed that Plasencia used Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, to distribute approximately 20 vials of ketamine to the actor.

Mid-October: It is alleged Iwamasa began also to buy ketamine for Perry from Erik Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne, and Jasveen Sangha, 41, of North Hollywood. During the same month, Iwamasa was allegedly told that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control”.

October 28: The US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, says Iwamasa injected Perry at his Pacific Palisades home with the ketamine that was sold to him by Fleming and Sangha, and using syringes from Plasencia. Perry was found face down in his hot tub, and paramedics declared him dead. Perry’s death was announced and it is claimed that Sangha texted Fleming: “Delete all our messages.”

October 29: An post-mortem examination is completed on Perry.

November 3: Friends co-stars Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston reportedly attend his funeral at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where he was buried.

(from left to right) Matt Le Blanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston (PA) (PA Archive)

December 15: The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident from the “acute effects of ketamine”. Perry was receiving “ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety”, the examination said. It concluded that this would not explain the levels found in his blood, which was in the range used for general anaesthesia during surgery.

February and March 2024: The US attorney alleges that Plasencia provided altered and falsified medical records, which claimed he had a legitimate “treatment plan” in place for Perry, which they say was an attempt to influence the investigation.

May: The Los Angeles Police Department confirms it is continuing to work with the DEA on an investigation into the circumstances of Perry’s death.

August 7: Iwamasa pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He admits to “repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training, including performing multiple injections” on the day of his death.

August 8: Fleming pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He admits to “obtaining the ketamine from his source, Sangha, and to distributing 50 vials of ketamine” to Iwamasa, the US attorney said.

August 15: Plasencia, Chavez, Iwamasa, Fleming and Sangha are charged over the circumstances surrounding Perry’s death. Sangha and Plasencia are set to appear in court.