June 16 marked the day when the mysteries surrounding the final weeks of Matthew Perry’s life—the beloved actor known for playing Chandler Bing in the iconic show Friends—were finally unveiled. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of five defendants in the case, pleaded guilty to four counts of illegal ketamine distribution—a drug that forensic experts confirmed was the primary cause of Perry’s death in October 2023.
Publicly, Perry had battled addiction for years, but only now has the true depth of his struggle come to light. His death, ruled as acute ketamine poisoning combined with drowning, shocked Hollywood. The revelation became even more disturbing as the investigation exposed a vast network involving respected doctors and street dealers. A DEA (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) probe revealed that Perry was exploited by a whole web of people who profited from his addiction. “His descent began with unscrupulous doctors who saw not a patient, but a source of income,” said DEA administrator Anne Milgram.
So far, four individuals have admitted guilt: assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, doctor Mark Chavez, dealer Eric Fleming, and now Plasencia himself. The only defendant still denying charges is Jasveen Sangha, whose case will be heard in August. She is believed by prosecutors to have provided the fatal dose.
Plasencia faces up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine, with his official plea hearing expected soon. He is also charged with falsifying medical documents.
Court documents and messages between those involved reveal a chilling callousness among the doctors supplying Perry with ketamine. “Wonder how much this idiot will pay this time? Don’t want him buying ketamine elsewhere,” Plasencia texted a colleague while Perry was still alive.
According to prosecutors, Plasencia began supplying Perry with ketamine a month before his death. Between September 30 and October 12, he sold twenty vials to Perry and his assistant, plus syringes and lozenges. Some injections were administered personally—even in a car parked in Los Angeles.
On one such occasion, Perry received a double dose—one from Iwamasa and another from Plasencia. This caused his blood pressure to spike dangerously, leaving him paralyzed. Yet the supply continued.
Assistant Iwamasa, who also pleaded guilty, acted as an informal home medic. He texted the doctor, “I found the sweet spot,” referring to injection sites. When supplies ran low, he purchased dozens of vials from other dealers, including Jasveen Sangha, nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen.”
In Perry’s final weeks, he reportedly received up to six injections per day over three consecutive days. A source revealed that Perry and his team spent at least $55,000 on 55 vials of ketamine. On one occasion, Iwamasa bought 25 vials for $6,000 and reportedly injected Perry six times himself that day.
October 28, 2023, began as usual: Iwamasa administered three injections, the last around 1:30 PM while Perry sat by his jacuzzi. “Give me a big one,” Perry reportedly said, according to his assistant. Iwamasa then left for errands.
At 4:00 PM, Iwamasa returned and found Perry face down in the water. He pulled him out, called emergency services, but the paramedics could only confirm his death. The autopsy later confirmed ketamine overdose as the cause, with drowning as a secondary factor. In one message, Plasencia described the situation as “like a bad movie”—but for millions of Matthew Perry’s fans worldwide, it was a heartbreaking reality that might have been preventable.
Perry’s death deeply affected actress Michelle Trachtenberg. Sources say she feared for her own life and postponed a needed liver transplant due to worsening health issues in recent months. His tragic end served as a stark warning about the dangers of addiction and related illnesses. Michelle passed away on February 26, 2024, at age 39, due to complications from diabetes.
