A California doctor, Salvador Plasencia, has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine, which led to the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry. The plea deal carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and Plasencia is expected to enter his plea in the coming weeks.
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular TV show “Friends,” was found dead in his hot tub in October 2023 at the age of 54. According to prosecutors, Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine at his home and in the parking lot of the Long Beach Aquarium. The doctor also taught Perry’s assistant how to administer the drug and sold extra vials for them to keep at home.
Text messages shared with prosecutors revealed that Plasencia referred to Perry as a “moron” and wondered how much he’d be willing to pay for the drugs. Between September 30, 2023, and October 12, 2023, Plasencia sold twenty 5ml vials of ketamine to Perry and his assistant.
Plasencia is one of five people charged in connection with Perry’s death, which prosecutors allege was part of an underground network of dealers and medical professionals who supplied the actor with ketamine. Perry was taking prescribed ketamine to treat depression but wanted more than his prescribed amount.
The case highlights the risks of ketamine misuse and the importance of responsible medical practice. Plasencia’s guilty plea is a significant development in the investigation into Perry’s death.
The investigation into Perry’s death revealed that the actor received 27 shots of ketamine in his final three days, with his assistant injecting him six to eight times a day. Perry had requested another injection 40 minutes after his second dose on the day of his death, saying “shoot me up with a big one” and asking his assistant to get the hot tub ready. The autopsy report concluded that Perry’s death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects contributing to his demise.
Ketamine overdoses like the one that killed Matthew Perry are rare but increasing, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data shows that hundreds of Americans have lost their lives to ketamine, highlighting the need for greater awareness and caution when using this powerful anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects.