Matthew Perry ketamine death: 5 arrested in connection to actor's overdose
LOS ANGELES - Five people, including two doctors, have been arrested and face charges in connection with actor Matthew Perry’s death, federal authorities announced Thursday. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the "Friends" star died from the "acute effects of ketamine," last October at his Pacific Palisades home.
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Two of those arrested include Dr. Salvador Plasencia, an internist and Jasveen Sangha, who is allegedly known as the "Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles." The two have been listed as the main defendants in the case.
The names of the other suspects were identified as Dr. Mark Chavez, Eric Fleming, and Kenneth Iwamasa.
Officials said shortly before his death, he relapsed. Perry was allegedly charged $2,000 per vial of ketamine and then turned to the street dealers to get the drug more quickly at a better price.
Investigators added Chavez and Plasencia "violated the oath they took to care of their patients."
Law enforcement sources previously told TMZ that agencies have executed search warrants and have seized personal devices such as phones and computers to help determine who provided Perry with the anesthetic drug that caused him to lose his life.
Perry reportedly received "ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety."
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The LA medical examiner said in Perry's autocopy report that, "Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder). The manner of death is accident."
His last known treatment was more than one week prior to death, but the medical examiner determined "the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less."
Local and federal authorities were investigating the case.
Perry was 54 years old.
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