The frantic messages from two people arrested in connection to the death of Matthew Perry have been revealed in newly released court documents.
The Friends star - who played Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom - was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28. He was later pronounced dead at the age of 54.
A toxicology report revealed that the actor died from acute effects of ketamine. Other contributing factors in his death included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, used to treat opioid use disorder.
At the time, his manner of death was ruled to be accidental.
In May, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) launched an investigation into how the actor had some much ketamine in his system.
It was soon discovered that a "broad underground criminal network" was responsible "for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr Perry and others," as reported by ABC News.
This led to the arrests of five people: Doctors Salvador Plascencia and Mark Chavez, Perry’s longtime live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, alleged dealer Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha, the so-called “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles".
Perry's stepfather Keith Morrison, who married the actor's mom, Suzanne Perry in 1981, released a statement along with other family members about the breakthrough in the investigation.
"We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously," they said, per Hollywood Reporter.
"We look forward to justice taking its course and we’re grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew’s death. We’re hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message," the family concluded.
Heartbreaking details about the events leading up to the 17 Again actor's death in October have now emerged.
From September until late October, doctors Plascencia and Mark Chavez provided Perry with about 20 vials of ketamine for $55,000 in cash, federal prosecutors alleged in a report by NBC News.
Prosecutors claim that Dr. Plascencia - who had a license to prescribe and distribute the strong tranquilizer - wanted to cash in on Perry's addiction, and texted the actor's assistant Iwamasa: "I wonder how much this moron will pay” for ketamine, according to The New York Post.
After obtaining ketamine through Dr. Plascencia became harder, Perry used an intermediary, Erik Fleming, to obtain vials of the substance through Jasveen Sangha.
Through Fleming, Sangha allegedly sold Perry approximately 15 vials of ketamine for about $11,000 in cash, per another report by the same outlet.
US Attorney E. Martin Estrada said at a press conference on Thursday that Sangha supplied the actor with the doses of ketamine that ultimately resulted in the star's death.
On the day of the actor's death, the indictment claims that Sangha texted Fleming on Signal, writing: "Delete all our messages," as cited by BBC. "Yes," Fleming replied.
Two days later, Fleming is alleged to have messaged Sangha: "Please call... Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with (Perry) only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.
"Also they are doing a 3 month tox screening ... Does K stay in your system or is it immediately flushed out[?]” per court documents.
Sangha also updated her Signal messaging app to automatically delete her messages with Fleming, per Vanity Fair.
Fleming has since pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
Meanwhile, Sangha pleaded not guilty but was not released on bail, as she had already been out on a bond after being apprehended in March for a previous drug charge.
She has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
In the days leading up to Perry's death, his assistant was administering "at least six shots" of the drug to the actor a day, per Sky News.
US Attorney Martin Estrada said the defendants "took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves," adding, "They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyway."
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrator Anne Milgram added: "Matthew Perry sought treatment for depression and anxiety and went to a local clinic where he became addicted to intravenous ketamine."
"When clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous doctors who saw Perry as a way to make quick money," she concluded.
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