An investigation has been initiated into the circumstances surrounding the death of Matthew Perry, focusing on his use of the anesthetic ketamine, which has been identified as a contributing factor.
Los Angeles Police Captain Scot Williams confirmed via email that the Los Angeles Police Department is collaborating with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the US Postal Inspection Service to determine why Perry, aged 54, had significant levels of ketamine in his system at the time of his death in October.
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit TV series Friends, was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Los Angeles residence. His autopsy report, released in December, indicated that the amount of ketamine in his blood corresponded to levels typically used for general anesthesia during surgery. The drug is also occasionally prescribed to treat depression.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner noted that while Perry drowned in the heated end of his pool, this was a secondary factor in his death, which has been ruled an accident.
According to the autopsy, individuals close to Perry informed investigators that he had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment for depression and anxiety. However, the medical examiner pointed out that Perry’s last treatment, conducted one and a half weeks before his death, would not account for the high levels of ketamine found in his system, as the drug usually metabolizes within hours.
Matthew Perry was a prominent television figure, achieving immense popularity during his tenure on Friends from 1994 to 2004, where he starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer.
