The Los Angeles Police have charged five people in relation to Matthew Perry’s death. On 24 July 2025, news broke that one of the accused, Salvador Plasencia, had pleaded guilty to supplying ketamine to the Friends actor. He is the fourth of the group to plead guilty. He has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the crime.
Matthew Perry died in October 2023. The official autopsy, released in December 2023, ruled his cause of death as an overdose of ketamine.
Among the arrested are Matthew’s former assistant, two doctors and an alleged drug dealer nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen”.
Matthew’s mother, Suzanne Perry, and two half sisters were present for Dr Savador Plasencia’s sentencing hearing.
“You called him a ‘moron’”, said Suzanne to Salvador in her victim impact statement. Evidence revealed during his trial showed that Salvador texted another doctor that Matthew was a “moron” and could be exploited for money. “There is nothing moronic about that man. He was even a successful drug addict.”
One of Matthew’s sisters, Madeleine Morrison, also made a statement: ” The world mourns my brother. He was everyone’s favourite friend.”
These five are accused of providing Matthew with the drug. According to US Drug Enforcement Administration head Anne Milgram, they played a “key role” in his death. Matthew’s blood showed that the amount of ketamine in his system was similar to that of someone under general anaesthesia.
Matthew suffered from addiction for most of his life. Furthermore, he detailed his addiction in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
Following his death, Matthew’s stepfather and Dateline veteran, Keith Morrison, and Friends co-star, Jennifer Aniston, encouraged fans to donate to his eponymous foundation. This foundation aims to help others struggling with addiction.
“This is not the sort of thing I commonly do, this pitch. But this year is different. And tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Do what you can; he would have been grateful,” Keith wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Giving Tuesday is an American tradition that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It encourages people to donate to charities, volunteer or do something generous for others.
“For #GivingTuesday please join me and Matty’s family in supporting his foundation – which is working to help those suffering with addiction…He would have been grateful for the love,” Jennifer wrote on social media.
News first broke in late October 2023 that Matthew had been found dead at his Los Angeles home. According to reports, the 54-year-old allegedly drowned after suffering cardiac arrest.
The actor’s family confirmed the news that he had passed away on October 28 with an official statement to People. It read, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of our beloved son and brother. Matthew brought so much joy to the world, both as an actor and a friend…You all meant so much to him, and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of love.”
Tributes for Matthew quickly began pouring in; you can read them all here.
