Authorities have arrested at least one person in connection with Matthew Perry’s death from an accidental ketamine overdose last year, a law enforcement official tells The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Authorities have scheduled a news conference in Los Angeles to announce details in the case later Thursday morning.
Quick Read
- Authorities have arrested at least one person in connection with Matthew Perry’s death from an accidental ketamine overdose last year, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
- A news conference is scheduled in Los Angeles later Thursday morning to provide more details about the case.
- The Los Angeles police have been working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service since May to investigate why Perry had a significant amount of ketamine, a surgical anesthetic, in his system.
- Perry, 54, was found face down in his hot tub on Oct. 28, and paramedics declared him dead at the scene.
- An autopsy released in December revealed that the amount of ketamine in Perry’s blood was within the range used for general anesthesia during surgery.
- Ketamine has seen a significant increase in use as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain in recent years. Perry was reportedly undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, according to people close to him.
- However, the medical examiner noted that Perry’s last treatment occurred 1 1/2 weeks before his death, and the levels of ketamine found in his blood wouldn’t be explained by that treatment, as the drug is typically metabolized within hours.
- Perry was being treated by at least two doctors, including a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist who served as his primary care physician, according to the medical examiner’s report.
- No illicit drugs or paraphernalia were found at Perry’s residence.
- The cause of death was listed as ketamine overdose, ruled an accident with no foul play suspected. Drowning and other medical issues were contributing factors, according to the coroner.
- Perry had a long history of struggles with addiction, dating back to his time on the hit TV show “Friends,” where he played Chandler Bing alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004.
The Associated Press has the story:
At least 1 arrest made in connection to Matthew Perry’s death, law enforcement says
Newslooks- LOS ANGELES (AP) —
Authorities have arrested at least one person in connection with Matthew Perry’s death from an accidental ketamine overdose last year, a law enforcement official tells The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Authorities have scheduled a news conference in Los Angeles to announce details in the case later Thursday morning.
Los Angeles police said in May that they were working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with a probe into why the 54-year-old had so much of the surgical anesthetic in his system.
An assistant found Perry face down in his hot tub on Oct. 28, and paramedics who were called immediately declared him dead.
His autopsy, released in December, found that the amount of ketamine in his blood was in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery.
The decades-old drug has seen a huge surge in use in recent years as a treatment for depression, anxiety and pain. People close to Perry told coroner’s investigators that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy.
But the medical examiner said Perry’s last treatment 1 1/2 weeks earlier wouldn’t explain the levels of ketamine in his blood. The drug is typically metabolized in a matter of hours. At least two doctors were treating Perry, a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist who served as his primary care physician, the medical examiner’s report said. No illicit drugs or paraphernalia were found at his house.
Ketamine was listed as the primary cause of death, which was ruled an accident with no foul play suspected, the report said. Drowning and other medical issues were contributing factors, the coroner said.
Perry had years of struggles with addiction dating back to his time on “Friends,” when he became one of the biggest television stars of his generation as Chandler Bing alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC’s megahit sitcom.
