Court records have revealed new details about the passing of ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry, specifically focusing on his final days.
These records outline the last stages of the beloved actor’s widely covered battle with addiction, which included a relapse in 2023 leading to his death from ‘the acute effects of ketamine’ in October of the previous year.
This week, California officials disclosed that five individuals are facing charges related to Perry’s death, after distributing ketamine to him in the weeks leading up to his passing.
One of those charged is Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who referred to himself as ‘Batman’s butler.’ Iwamasa, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death and serious bodily harm, and could receive a 15-year prison sentence.
According to investigators, Iwamasa collaborated with others to purchase over $55,000 worth of ketamine for Perry, administering the drug without the necessary medical qualifications. Ketamine, known for its anesthetic properties and recreational use, contains psychedelic elements.At the time of his passing, Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to alleviate depression and anxiety. The drug’s hallucinogenic effects alter sensory perceptions and induce a feeling of detachment and lack of control. Despite being an FDA-approved anesthetic, ketamine has been acknowledged as a potent antidepressant for many years.
Physician Salvador Plasencia, 42, and Jasveen Sangha, 41, dubbed ‘The Ketamine Queen’ by the DOJ, were charged with 18 counts in connection to Perry’s death.
Additionally, three other individuals – Dr. Mark Chavez and Erik Fleming, both 54, along with Iwamasa – face charges. However, it is Iwamasa’s admission that reveals Perry’s final moments, and his private struggle with ketamine addiction, leading up to the tragic discovery in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades residence in Los Angeles.
Matthew Perry experienced paralysis from ‘a high dose of ketamine’ two weeks before his passing
By September 30, Iwamasa had learned to administer ketamine following instructions from Dr. Plasencia, known as ‘Dr. P,’ who had given Perry two injections of ketamine and then taught the assistant how to perform injections, leaving a vial behind. Iwamasa communicated in code with co-conspirators to secure more ketamine for several days.
In the days leading up to his passing, investigators revealed that Plasencia gave Perry a significant amount of ketamine, resulting in a negative physical response that caused a sudden spike in blood pressure. This reaction left Perry immobilized and unable to communicate.
According to legal documents, Plasencia reportedly advised Iwamasa not to repeat the same action.
Further details in court papers imply that Iwamasa and Perry had discussed taking a break from using ketamine. This was evident when Plasencia, identified as ‘co-conspirator 1,’ messaged Iwamasa about stockpiling supplies in case they planned to resume while he was away.
However, investigators argue that Iwamasa should never have administered ketamine to Perry to begin with.
‘Fatal Third Dose of Ketamine’: Matthew Perry’s Tragic Ending
On the day of Perry’s untimely death, Iwamasa injected him with ketamine twice – once in the morning and once in the afternoon while Perry was watching a movie. Following this, Perry requested a third injection by telling his assistant to give him a large dose of ketamine while preparing the hot tub.
Shortly after, Perry received a fatal third injection in or near the jacuzzi, resulting in a total of three doses within a span of five hours.
After leaving Perry alone to run errands, Iwamasa returned to discover Perry lifeless in the pool at his residence. Emergency responders found Perry unconscious in the jacuzzi and pronounced him dead shortly after their arrival.
‘Upon evaluation, it was evident that the individual had passed away before our team arrived,’ informed Nicholas Prange, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department. The official autopsy report, released a month later, concluded that Perry’s demise was accidental and attributed to the immediate impact of ketamine.
Shortly before Perry’s passing, he shared a picture on his Instagram of himself relaxing in a jacuzzi with huge headphones on. Alongside the photo, he wrote, ‘Feeling good with the warm water swirling around me? I’m Mattman.’
Perry opens up about his struggles with addiction in his book: ‘I never quit’
The concluding chapter ‘Batman’ of Perry’s bestseller, ‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,’ delves into his ongoing battle with staying sober, overcoming alcoholism, and fighting drug addiction for many years. The final pages of his memoir describe the tranquility he has found in his home, living a sober life high above the ocean, overlooking the California coastline.
‘Addiction – the daunting challenge – is too formidable to conquer alone. But together, taking it one day at a time, we can push it back,’ Perry expressed. ‘The one thing I never faltered on was my persistence.’
He concluded the book with these words: ‘Maybe someday, you will face a significant challenge yourself. Prepare for it and when the moment arrives, just ask yourself ‘What would Batman do?’ and follow suit.’
