- Friends star died last year from acute effects of ketamine
- LAPD and DEA have opened investigation into how Perry died
- Ketamine infusion therapy sessions ruled out as contributing factor to death
More than six months after Matthew Perry died, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have launched a joint criminal investigation into the star’s death.
An autopsy held after Perry’s death on October 28, 2023, ruled that Perry died from acute effects of the anaesthetic ketamine, which would have caused cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. Perry’s death was ruled as an accident, with no signs of foul play.
Ketamine investigation
But that doesn’t appear to be the end of the case. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the LAPD and DEA are investigating how Perry came to have so much ketamine in his system and how he procured such an amount.
It is known that Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, which is said to help with conditions such as depression and anxiety as well as drug and alcohol problems. But his last session of that had been 10 days prior to his passing, and the autopsy noted that the level of ketamine in his system could not have been from that.
Outpouring of grief
Perry, who was aged 54 when he died, shot to fame in the 1990s as Chandler Bing in Friends, which became one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. He appeared in numerous films and TV shows following the end of Friends. However, Perry had well-documented addiction issues for large parts of his adult life.
He was laid to rest in a cemetery in LA following a private funeral in November.
There was a widespread outpouring of grief when Perry passed away. Heartfelt tributes were made by all of his Friends co-stars and many others, who praised his humor and desire to help others with addiction issues.
