Matthew Perry‘s doctor is set to plead guilty after the actor’s death from a fatal ketamine overdose. The tragic death of Perry continues to stir headlines, as new legal developments unfold nearly two years after the beloved actor’s passing. Best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, Perry was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The latest reports reveal that the doctor who supplied him with ketamine is expected to plead guilty.
Here are all the details.
Matthew Perry’s doctor pleads guilty
In a significant legal development, federal prosecutors announced on Monday that Matthew Perry’s doctor, Salvador Plasencia, has agreed to plead guilty to four felony counts of distributing ketamine. The California-based physician, whom authorities allege provided Perry with the drug in the weeks leading up to his death, will formally enter his plea in the coming weeks. If convicted, Plasencia faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison.
Perry, who was 54 at the time of his death, had openly battled addiction and depression. His sudden death prompted multiple investigations. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner subsequently led the inquiry and ruled Matthew Perry’s cause of death a ketamine overdose. The LAPD then took over the investigation in 2024 to determine how Perry accessed the substance in such quantities.
Additionally, text messages obtained by investigators reveal disturbing behavior. In one exchange with Dr. Mark Chavez, another physician who already pleaded guilty, Matthew Perry’s doctor, Plasencia, reportedly mocked the actor, calling him a “moron” while speculating how much he’d pay for the drugs. These texts became a key piece of evidence in the case. (via BBC)
Moreover, prosecutors identified Plasencia and an unnamed female ketamine dealer as the main targets in their investigation. Three additional defendants, including Dr. Chavez, have already pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the investigation. At the time of writing, no comments have been made by Plasencia’s lawyers.
The trial is scheduled for August this year.
