Matthew Perry’s Death Prompts Criminal Investigation by LAPD and DEA – IGN

The Los Angeles Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration have opened a joint criminal investigation into the death of Friends star Matthew Perry.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, in what was deemed an accident with no signs of foul play, on October 28, 2023. While Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, a method used to help treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, drug and alcohol problems, chronic pain, and more, his autopsy said “the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy since ketamine’s half-life is three to four hours or less.”

The LAPD and DEA have now opened the criminal investigation, which will look into how Perry came to have so much ketamine in his system at the time of his death and how he came to possess it in general.

Perry was open about his battle with addiction and was passionate about helping others who faced the same struggles. The entire entertainment industry was shaken by his death and a wave of tributes emerged afterwards.

His Friends co-stars, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and David Schwimmer, all wrote touching tributes. LeBlanc, who played the best friend of Perry’s Chandler Bing, was the first to speak out, saying “the times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life”.

Image Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.