Matthew Perry’s death under criminal investigation months after ‘Friends’ star died from effects of ketamine

It’s been six months since the shocking death of Matthew Perry — and now authorities have opened a criminal investigation into how the beloved Friends The star got the ketamine which ultimately killed him.

Perry was immediately pronounced dead by paramedics after an attendant found him face down in his hot tub on October 28, 2023. An autopsy report later revealed he died from the “acute effects of the ketamine,” as well as contributing factors such as “drowning, coronary heart disease, and effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder). At the time, his death was ruled an accident.

However, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration are currently investigating how the actor received the drugs.

Relatives of Perry reportedly told coroner’s investigators that he was receiving ketamine infusion therapy, which is often used to treat anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol problems and more. But because his last treatment had taken place more than a week before his death, the high levels of ketamine in his system at the time of his death did not add up.

“The ketamine present in his system at the time of his death could not have come from this infusion therapy since the half-life of ketamine is three to four hours or less,” the autopsy report states. The Hollywood Reporter.

This would not be the first time that someone has been accused of supplying a celebrity with drugs that resulted in death. In 2011, Michael Jackson’s doctor was convicted of manslaughter for allegedly prescribing the singer a lethal dose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic intended for surgical procedures that he used inappropriately to treat insomnia. Additionally, the two men who provided rapper Mac Miller with counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl, leading to his death in 2018, were ultimately sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

Perry had struggled with substance abuse issues since his arrival Friends, the hit sitcom in which he starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc. The actor previously revealed he was taking up to 55 Vicodin a day while filming. Friends and, at one time, weighed only 128 pounds, per People.

In a resurfaced clip from Aniston’s 2004 interview with Diane Sawyer, the actress broke down in tears over the thought of losing Perry to her addiction.

“He had a hard time,” Aniston said through tears. “We didn’t know that. We, you know, we weren’t equipped to deal with it. No one had ever had to deal with this. And, you know, the very idea of ​​losing him…”

At the time of his death, the Friends The actors released a joint statement before penning their own individual tributes to their late co-star.

“We are all completely devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just castmates. We are family,” the statement said. People. “There is so much to say, but for now, we are going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.