Matthew Perry's family 'thrilled' by arrests linked to actor's death

Matthew Perry's family supported the prosecution of those arrested and charged in connection with the actor's death in a new interview Today.

Perry died one year ago today, October 28th. An autopsy report determined that his death was caused by “acute effects of ketamine,” which likely caused Perry to become “unconscious” and drown in a hot tub at his home. Five people – two doctors, Perry's assistant, a television producer and a woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” of Los Angeles – were subsequently arrested and accused of supplying Perry with the drugs that led to his fatal overdose.

In the new interview, Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, said she was “thrilled” about the criminal cases. And Perry's stepfather, who Dateline Correspondent Keith Morrison added: “What I'm hoping, and I think the agencies that got involved in this are hoping, is that people who have made it their business to supply people with drugs that will kill them are doing it now do.” on notification. It doesn't matter what professional qualifications you have. You’re going down, baby.”

According to officials, Perry became “addicted to ketamine” while seeking treatment for depression and anxiety at a local clinic in the fall of 2023. When the clinic refused to increase his dosages, the actor reportedly turned to the other suppliers charged in the case.

While Perry had long struggled with drug problems and sobriety, his sister Madeline Morrison said Today on his growing ketamine addiction: “I don’t even know if he relapsed in his mind.”

So far, three of the five defendants in the case have pleaded guilty: Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, TV producer Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez. Prosecutors said Fleming acted as a “street dealer” who obtained large quantities of ketamine from Jasveen Sangha (the alleged “Ketamine Queen”) and sold it to Perry. Iwamasa, meanwhile, has admitted to injecting Perry with ketamine up to six times a day, including on the day Perry died. And Dr. Chavez pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine to Perry before his death; During a hearing in August, Chavez said through his lawyer that he was “incredibly remorseful.”

The other two accused, Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, have both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Their joint trial is scheduled to begin on March 4, 2025.

Elsewhere in her interview with TodayPerry's family commemorated the one-year anniversary of the actor's death, expressed their sadness and discussed how to continue Perry's efforts to help others struggling with addiction. The latter includes the creation of the new Matthew Perry Foundation of Canada, which is different from its U.S. counterpart but shares a similar mission.

“He made it a big focus of his life to help other people and encourage other people to say, 'I need help.' He tried to make people realize that this was a brave thing to do,” said Perry's sister Caitlin Morrison, who will be executive director of the new foundation.

As Caitlin watched her brother and others battle addiction, she added: “It can be a hopeless thing, and it wasn't just Matthew. I hear it from people all the time now – that it's a hopeless thing to be in a place where you feel like you're in a constant battle between wanting to be free (from the addiction) and what your brain and body are trying to do to catch you again.”

Keith Morrison said he believes Perry's death “taught the world” that “no amount of money can cure an addict.” He continued: “It takes something different. That’s what we’re trying to do (with the foundation).”