Nearly three years ago, police commenced an investigation into the tragic death of Friends’ Matthew Perry, and it has finally come to an end.
In May 2026, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced the fifth and final person for their involvement supplying the drug that would claim Matthew’s life on October 28, 2023, aged 54.
Those prosecuted include his live-in personal assistant Kennth Iwamasa, Dr. Mark Chavez, Erik Fleming, Jasveen Sangha, and Dr. Salvador Plasencia.
The autopsy report by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed Matthew died due to “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning.
Matthew had been taking surgical anesthetic ketamine legally for his depression. However, he wanted more than the doctors prescribed.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Matthew’s live-in personal assistant, procured and injected him with the fatal dose of ketamine – later finding him dead in the jacuzzi. He has been sentenced to three years and five months in prison, two years of probation and a $14,000 fine.
“You were privy to his struggle with addiction,” the judge said, as per ABC. “Your conduct was reckless, not just on the day of his death but in the days leading up to his death.”
Adding, “there is no hard evidence that you acted with malicious intent, though some would disagree.”
Prosecutors claimed Matthew was being injected with the drug six to eight times a day, as per NBC News.
Kenneth’s lawyer, Alan Eisner argued for a six-month prison term with six-months of home confinement, arguing his “loyalty” was paramount.
“He worshipped Mr Perry, he looked up to Mr Perry. All he did was please and accommodate Mr Perry,” he said.
To which Judge Garnett said, “Unwilling. Not unable. He could have said no.”
Matthew’s family feel that there’s no one more to blame for his passing than Kenneth, a long time friend and once “part of the family.”
“We trusted him implicitly,” his stepfather, Keith Morrison said. “You did the injections. You could have made the phone call… But you didn’t. Because you were living a dandy life. You were in control of one of the most famous people in the world.”
Matthew hired Kenneth in 2022, and was paying him $210,000 AUD a year to live at his LA home and act as an assistant.
Matthew’s mother, Suzanne Morrison felt Kenneth’s “most important job” was to help her son’s fight against addiction, writing: “We trusted a man without a conscience, and my son paid the price.”
Kenneth’s plea agreement stated he purchased off-the-books ketamine from Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who then taught him how to inject it.
In July 2026, Salvador was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
Kenneth also bought the drug from Matthew’s friend, Erik Fleming, who was using a street dealer, Jasveen Sangha dubbed The Ketamine Queen by authorities. Erik was sentenced to two years in prison, while Jasveen was sentenced to 15 years.
