There are indications that several individuals might soon confront charges in relation to the death of renowned actor Matthew Perry, celebrated for his part as Chandler Bing in the popular TV sitcom “Friends.” This information emerges as federal investigators approach the final stages of their probe into the circumstances leading to Perry’s premature death.
The 54-year-old Perry was discovered unresponsive in his hot tub at his residence in Los Angeles, California on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office declared his death as accidental, resulting from the intense effects of ketamine, a drug typically utilized as an anesthetic and also for treating depression and pain. Other contributing factors were drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of buprenorphine, a drug used to manage opioid addiction.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s initial investigation concluded in January, but it was reopened in May following the emergence of new evidence about the ketamine’s source.
One individual questioned by the police is Brooke Mueller, actor Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife. Perry and Mueller had developed an unexpected friendship during their rehab stint. Police confiscated her laptop and iPhone as part of the investigation. Mueller has been actively cooperating with the authorities by hiring attorneys and attending numerous meetings with law enforcement since the search warrant was executed at her sober living house. She insists she had no involvement in Perry’s death.
The authorities are presently concentrating on determining how Perry obtained such large amounts of the drug. A source close to the investigation shared that “several people” might have had a role in providing the ketamine that resulted in Perry’s death.
Several law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Postal Inspection Service, are part of this case. Their collective task is to identify the source of the ketamine found in Perry’s body. As LAPD Capt. Scot Williams stated, “We are working diligently to uncover how Mr. Perry acquired the ketamine and whether it was legally prescribed or illicitly obtained.”
Perry had revealed in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression treatment. However, the autopsy report suggested that the ketamine levels in his blood were not consistent with typical therapeutic infusions, hinting at a recent and possibly illegal drug source.
The investigation has also brought to light the complexities of Perry’s medical care. He was being treated by two doctors at the time of his death – a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist. Both are currently under scrutiny to determine if their practices were a factor in the high ketamine levels found in Perry’s body.
The decision on whether to press charges against those involved rests with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If the case is taken to court, it could have substantial legal implications for the implicated individuals.