Multiple people may soon face charges in connection with the death of beloved actor Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit TV show “Friends.” This revelation comes as federal investigators near the end of their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Perry’s untimely death.
Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles, California home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death an accident caused by the acute effects of ketamine, a drug commonly used for anesthesia but also known for its application in treating depression and pain. Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.
While the initial investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department concluded in January, it was reopened in May after new evidence surfaced regarding the source of the ketamine.
One of the individuals questioned by police is Brooke Mueller, the ex-wife of Charlie Sheen. Mueller and Perry had formed an unexpected friendship during their time in rehab. Police seized her laptop and iPhone as part of the investigation. Mueller has been cooperating with the authorities, hiring lawyers, and having multiple meetings with law enforcement since the search warrant was executed at her sober living house. She has maintained that she had nothing to do with Perry’s death.
Authorities are now focusing on how Perry obtained such high levels of the drug. According to a source close to the investigation, “several people” may have played a role in supplying the ketamine that led to Perry’s death.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the case include the LAPD, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Their combined efforts aim to trace the origins of the ketamine found in Perry’s system. As LAPD Capt. Scot Williams explained, “We are working diligently to uncover how Mr. Perry acquired the ketamine and whether it was legally prescribed or illicitly obtained.”
Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to manage anxiety and depression, a fact he disclosed in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” However, the autopsy report indicated that the levels of ketamine in his blood were inconsistent with those typically seen from therapeutic infusions, suggesting a more recent and possibly illegal source of the drug.
The investigation also highlights the complexities of Perry’s medical treatment. He was under the care of two doctors at the time of his death — a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist. Both professionals are currently being scrutinized to determine if their practices contributed to the high ketamine levels found in Perry’s body.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is expected to decide whether to press charges against those involved. If the case proceeds to prosecution, it could have significant legal ramifications for the individuals implicated.
