The recent arrest of five individuals connected to the death of actor Matthew Perry, which occurred in October 2023 due to a ketamine overdose, continues to uncover new information regarding the passing of the “Friends” star. According to information obtained by NBC News, the American actor requested three doses of ketamine from his longtime assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who is among those arrested, on the day he passed away, October 28.
It is reported that Perry asked Iwamasa for the first dose at 8:30 a.m. (PT) on Thursday, October 28, while he was at his mansion in Los Angeles. Following this, Perry requested another dose from his assistant four hours later while watching a movie. Finally, after another interval, the actor asked Iwamasa for a third dose, in addition to instructing him to prepare his jacuzzi. After this action, it was revealed that Matthew’s assistant left the residence to carry out some tasks, discovering the actor’s body upon his return, as mentioned in the Los Angeles Police Department report.
Matthew Perry, who won the hearts of millions as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” was also a man who dared to show his most vulnerable side. In his autobiography, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” he vividly described his harsh battle against addiction, expressing his hope that his story could serve as a beacon for those who, like him, were struggling against the darkness. However, recent revelations suggest that he never fully escaped the shadows that haunted him.
In the same investigation, and during the initial report of the findings, it was disclosed that the actor was consuming ketamine as part of his treatment to combat his drug addiction. However, it was found that the actor had consumed exorbitant amounts a month prior to his death. The autopsy revealed that Perry had been using the drug to treat his depression, but in the month leading up to his death, his consumption was excessive.
According to recent discoveries, Perry’s assistant was “trained” by Dr. Salvador Plascencia, another of the five detained, to administer the ketamine to the actor. Iwamasa had been trained by Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, to administer ketamine to Perry. Plasencia also prescribed pills and liquid ketamine to the actor. Officially, Perry had received the controlled dose two weeks before his death, but he instructed his assistant to continue buying the drug from Plasencia and, later, from a man named Erik Fleming, who were also charged.
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“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” stated United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause,” he added.
The investigation mentions that, apparently, the doctor conspired with Dr. Mark Chávez to make quick money at the expense of Perry’s weak battle against drugs. The investigation also indicated that Plascencia “allied” with Dr. Mark Chávez with the intention of exploiting Perry’s addiction to make “quick” money. During the investigation, Los Angeles authorities questioned several Hollywood personalities known for being involved in the drug scene to find out how Perry obtained the drug, as messages were found from the actor requesting a specific amount of ketamine and asking how much he would have to pay for it.
“Bringing these individuals to justice for their role in the untimely death of Mr. Perry required coordination and hard work by a number of people, and I want to thank LAPD detectives and our federal partners for their patience and dedication,” explained LAPD Chief Dominic Choi. “As the boots on the ground in our communities, on a daily basis LAPD officers witness first-hand the harm that these narcotics can cause, so I’m pleased that our collective efforts have led to the arrest of these individuals.”
So far, according to the investigation, the five individuals involved in Perry’s death—Kenneth Iwamasa, Salvador Plascencia, Erik Fleming, Mark Chávez, and Jasveen Sangha—face charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and alteration and falsification of records related to a federal investigation.
