Law enforcement officials are considering charges against multiple individuals in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, according to People.com.
Perry, best known for his role in the NBC sitcom “Friends,” died in October at the age of 54. He was discovered dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles mansion after sending his assistant out on an errand.
A source within the federal investigation informed People that the inquiry into Perry’s death is nearing completion. The decision on whether to press charges against “multiple people” will soon follow.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office’s autopsy report listed the cause of Perry’s death as the “acute effects of ketamine,” which was deemed accidental. The report also noted drowning, coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine, an opioid, as contributing factors.
In his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry openly discussed his use of ketamine — a drug commonly used to ease pain and treat depression. However, he expressed discomfort with the drug, describing it as a “giant exhale” that made him feel like he was “dying.”
The Los Angeles Police Department initially completed their investigation into Perry’s death in January. However, TMZ reported in May that federal authorities were probing Perry’s use of ketamine.
Following Perry’s unexpected death, leading neuroscientist Dr. Bankole Johnson speculated to the New York Post that Perry had “likely” obtained ketamine illegally for “recreational use. It would be questionable medicine to provide ketamine to someone also using buprenorphine — a true recipe for disaster.”
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