Matthew Perry's last hours before his death

On the day of his death, Matthew Perry asked his assistant to inject him with a large dose of ketamine.

Perry died on October 28, 2023. At 8:30 a.m. that morning Friends The star's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected him with a first dose of ketamine, according to an agreement Iwamasa made with the Ministry of Justice.

At 12:45 p.m., Iwamasa injected Perry again while he was watching a movie at home. According to the plea agreement, Perry asked for another dose 40 minutes after the second dose.

“Give me a big shot,” Perry said to his assistant and asked him to prepare his hot tub.

The third dose was administered while Perry was either nearby or in the hot tub, according to the agreement. Iwamasa then left the house to run errands. When he returned, he found Perry dead, face down in the hot tub.

Iwamasa was one of five defendants charged by the Justice Department in connection with Perry's death. According to his autopsy report, the defendant's death was due to the “acute effects” of ketamine.

Perry's assistant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute lethal ketamine and admitted to injecting the actor with the drug “multiple times” in the days before his death.

According to the settlement, Iwamasa injected Perry with six to eight doses of ketamine daily between October 24 and 27.

Jasveen Sangha – allegedly known as the “Ketamine Queen” according to prosecutors – and Dr. Salvador Plasencia were also charged in connection with the case. Both have pleaded not guilty to several counts. Both are accused of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Sangha also faces one count of operating a drug-addictive establishment, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to resell, one count of possession of ketamine with intent to resell and five counts of resale of ketamine.

The other two suspects have either pleaded guilty or are expected to do so, prosecutors say. Erik Fleming, an accomplice of Perry's, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Dr. Mark Chavez will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, the Justice Department said.

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US Attorney Martin Estrada said during a press conference announcing the charges that Perry had relapsed into his addiction shortly before his death.

“These defendants exploited Mr. Perry’s addiction problems to enrich themselves,” Estrada said.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please call the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP