15/08/2024
Five people have been charged in the investigation into the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, prosecutor Martin Estrada announced. The five suspects, including two doctors, are accused of, among other things, “conspiracy to distribute ketamine” and “distribution of ketamine resulting in death.” Perry died in October at the age of 54 from a ketamine overdose.
One of the doctors was arrested Thursday morning local time in California, Estrada reports. According to the indictment, Perry, who has been prescribed ketamine several times in the past as a treatment for depression, is said to have first obtained the ketamine from the two doctors. When that became too expensive, he is said to have obtained the drug from a woman who Estrada calls “the ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.
Also read: Five people charged in investigation into Matthew Perry’s death
Profiteers
“They knew what they were doing was wrong,” Estrada said of the defendants’ actions. “These defendants cared more about profiting from Matthew Perry than they did about his well-being.” Anne Milgram, the head of the DEA’s drug enforcement agency, said of the defendants: “We allege that each of the defendants played a key role in his death by falsely prescribing, selling or injecting ketamine that tragically killed Matthew Perry.” All of the defendants face years in prison, ranging from 10 years to life.
Months of research
Perry was found dead in his hot tub last October. The death was ruled an accident, but police spent months investigating the cause of his death.
Still deeply saddened
Radio journalist Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather, released a statement on behalf of the family in response to the news. “We were and remain deeply saddened by Matthew’s death, but it has helped us to know that the police have taken his case very seriously,” the family said. “We look forward to seeing justice served.”
