Text Messages Reveal Disparaging Comments Before Actor’s Death
In a shocking revelation, text messages have surfaced showing that a doctor and a drug dealer referred to Matthew Perry as “Chandler” and a “moron” in the month leading up to his tragic death. The Friends star, aged 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.
Accusations and charges
Five individuals have been charged in connection with Perry’s death, including his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, acquaintance Erik Fleming, doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, and Jasveen Sangha, a North Hollywood woman known as “The Ketamine Queen.” These defendants were named by the US Attorney’s Office earlier this month.
According to prosecutors, Perry had become increasingly addicted to ketamine in the months before his death. Text messages between the accused reveal a conspiracy to exploit Perry’s addiction for financial gain. The law enforcement agencies executed search warrants, seizing computers, phones, and other electronic equipment to track the supply chain of the drug.
“I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Plasencia texted Chavez a month before Perry’s death. “Let’s find out,” he continued. Plasencia, who officials allege administered ketamine to Perry, described his experience with the actor as a “bad movie.”
In another instance, while coordinating a $5,000 sale of 25 ketamine vials, Fleming referred to Perry “using the name of a well-known character that [Perry] portrayed in a television series,” according to his plea agreement. Law enforcement officials confirmed that he called the actor “Chandler.”
Prosecutors allege that Sangha ripped Perry off by initially quoting Fleming $160 a vial but charging Perry $220 a vial. Fleming pocketed an additional $500 in the transaction.
Legal consequences
Fleming has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He admitted in court to providing Perry with the fatal dose. Iwamasa, 59, has also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, admitting to repeatedly injecting Perry with the drug without medical training, including on the day Perry died.
Chavez, 54, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. The other defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine to the actor.
Medical findings and concerns
A medical examiner ruled that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine, with an autopsy report indicating that the level of ketamine in his blood was within the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. Perry had initially started using the drug to treat depression and anxiety at a local clinic. While ketamine therapy has shown promising results for treating depression, it can be harmful if not monitored carefully, according to Dr. Robert McCarron, a professor of psychiatry.
The case underscores the dangers of unmonitored drug use and the potential for exploitation by those seeking to profit from addiction, highlighting the need for greater scrutiny and accountability in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.