Matthew Perry’s Death Investigation: A Complete Timeline

The tragic passing of actor Matthew Perry on October 28, 2023, set off a complex legal and investigative journey that has since unfolded in stages—beginning with the medical examiner’s report and extending into federal courtrooms, guilty pleas, and ongoing trials. This timeline captures the key developments that have shaped the narrative around his death, spotlighting both the personal toll and the systemic failures exposed along the way. On October 28, 2023, Perry was found unresponsive in his home hot tub in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.

First responders arrived shortly after 4:00 p. m. PST following a 911 call referencing a medical emergency.

The actor, aged 54, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office ruled the manner of death as accidental; toxicology revealed that Perry had high levels of ketamine in his system, contributing to drowning. Coronary artery disease and effects from buprenorphine were also noted as contributing factors.

The same report clarified that while Perry had been receiving ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety and depression, the ketamine detected in his blood was not from a recent therapeutic session—the drug had a half-life of 3–4 hours. Initially, law enforcement and the medical examiner closed the death investigation in December 2023 and January 2024, considering it an accident. However, questions remained about how Perry obtained such large quantities of ketamine outside regulated medical practice.

In May 2024, the LAPD reopened the case, working alongside the DEA and U. S. Postal Inspection Service to trace the origins of the ketamine found in Perry’s system.

On August 15, 2024, law enforcement arrested five individuals in connection with the distribution of ketamine that led to Perry’s death. The charges included conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death. The accused were Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa; two physicians, Dr.

Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia; a television director turned dealer, Erik Fleming; and alleged supplier Jasveen Sangha—dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”. Federal prosecutors said the group capitalized on Perry’s addiction, distributing a total of 27 injections over a span of days—including on the day he died—after he requested to be “shot up with a big one”.

Iwamasa, who administered ketamine without medical training, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death on the day of the overdose. Prosecutors said he injected Perry three times that day alone. Erik Fleming, described as a street-level dealer who sourced the ketamine, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and distribution resulting in death.

Dr. Mark Chavez, who supplied ketamine to Dr. Plasencia under false pretenses, entered a guilty plea in October 2024 for conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who injected Perry directly and arranged multiple deliveries, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to four counts of illegal distribution of ketamine. Text messages revealed an unethical attitude among suppliers; Plasencia and colleagues referred to Perry as a “moron” they could exploit for profit.

Prosecutors described the accused as taking advantage of Perry’s addiction for financial gain and repeatedly violating medical boundaries. Jasveen Sangha has pleaded not guilty; her trial is scheduled for August 2025. As of July 2025, sentencing dates are pending: Iwamasa and Fleming face up to 25 years, Chavez up to 10 years, and Plasencia up to 40 years in prison.

Sangha risks life in prison if convicted. Amid the legal proceedings, a Peacock documentary titled “Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy” was released in early 2025, illustrating the depths of Perry’s struggle and the recklessness of those around him. The documentary includes court documents, text messages, and US Attorney statements depicting how the defendants knowingly endangered Perry’s life.

Throughout the investigation, Perry’s family, including mother Suzanne Morrison and stepfather Keith Morrison, expressed heartbreak and hoped this case would signal accountability for exploiters in addiction crises. Friends castmates issued a joint statement mourning Perry’s death and highlighting the importance of the legal outcomes. The formation of the Matthew Perry Foundation, supporting addiction recovery and mental health, has been one positive legacy amid the tragedy.

This timeline—from Perry’s unexpected death, through autopsy findings, federal indictments, guilty pleas, to upcoming trials—reveals systemic failures in controlled substance distribution, crossing medical, legal, and ethical boundaries. It highlights how a star with a history of addiction became a target for manipulation and how collaborative prosecutorial action brought accountability. As the legal process unfolds, the cases of Dr.

Plasencia and Sangha will test the justice system’s ability to deter the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Their outcomes are expected to influence how ketamine is regulated and underscore the necessity for stricter oversight in off-label medical use. While Hollywood mourns, this investigation serves as a cautionary tale—revealing the dark side of celebrity vulnerability, the perilous intersection of medicine and addiction, and the pursuit of justice in the aftermath of a preventable loss.