Los Angeles authorities have launched a joint criminal investigation into the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, who passed away at the age of 54 in his California home on October 28, 2022. The inquiry is aimed at establishing how he came to possess such high levels of the anaesthetic ketamine, which was listed as the primary cause of his death. His autopsy report revealed that Perry’s postmortem blood specimens contained lethal levels of cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression due to the effects of ketamine.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Los Angeles Police Department have launched a probe into Perry’s death. Perry’s autopsy had initially listed coronary artery disease, drowning, and the impact of buprenorphine, a medication utilized in treating opioid addiction, as contributing factors to his death. At the time, his death was classified as accidental with no evidence of foul play. Nevertheless, the authorities are seeking to determine how such high levels of ketamine resulted in his death. Perry had struggled with drug and alcohol problems throughout his life, which he documented in his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and The Big Terrible Thing” published in 2022.
Perry underwent ketamine infusion therapy to manage his addiction, with his last session taking place a week before his death. However, the autopsy results indicate that his ketamine levels at the time of his death could not have resulted from this therapy because ketamine’s half-life is no more than four hours. Perry’s Friends co-star Courtney Cox revealed in a recent interview that she still converses with him and other deceased family members routinely. Cox stated that she often senses Perry’s presence and believes he is close by.
The authorities are currently investigating Perry’s case as a potential drug overdose, prompting a significant international response. Perry’s death was a tragic end to a remarkable career that had propelled him to international stardom. He had acquired an enormous following around the world for his memorable performance as Chandler Bing in the ever-popular sitcom Friends. The Friends franchise, which aired from 1994 to 2004, remains one of the most enduring sitcoms in the history of television entertainment
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