A law enforcement source has revealed that the investigation into Matthew Perry’s death from ketamine is “nearing its conclusion,” with police believing “multiple people” could face charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will ultimately decide whether to press charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the matter on Tuesday, June 25.
The former Friends star died on October 28 at age 54. His death was ruled accidental, with an autopsy report in December indicating acute effects of ketamine, drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine, a medication for opioid use disorder, as contributing factors.
In December, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner closed its investigation into Perry’s death. However, in May, the Los Angeles Police Department began probing the circumstances of his overdose, working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. postal inspectors to trace the origin of the ketamine that caused his death.
Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death, as per his autopsy. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry candidly discussed his battles with addiction, hoping to help others by sharing his story.
“I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober…to write it all down,” Perry said in a 2022 interview. “I was pretty certain that it would help people if I did.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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