In a disturbing twist surrounding the tragic death of Friends star Matthew Perry, new court documents reveal that one of the doctors charged in connection with his October 2023 overdose allegedly referred to the actor as a "moron" in text messages. The shocking details emerged nearly a year after Perry's death, exposing a web of unethical behavior involving medical professionals and alleged drug dealers, all of whom are accused of exploiting the actor’s struggles with addiction for their own gain.
Source: Getty Images
Five Individuals Charged, Including Two Medical Doctors
The federal indictment names five individuals, including two medical doctors—Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez—who now face serious charges related to Perry's untimely death. According to the indictment, these doctors, along with other co-conspirators, played key roles in supplying Perry with dangerous levels of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic known for its potential for abuse.
Plasencia, 42, is already in custody, as is an alleged drug dealer known as the "Ketamine Queen," Jasveen Sangha. The charges paint a grim picture of how Perry, a beloved actor battling addiction, was taken advantage of by those who were supposed to be medical professionals.
The Disturbing Text Messages
One of the most alarming revelations comes from a series of text messages exchanged between Plasencia and Chavez in September 2023. The conversations, detailed in court documents, are chilling. In one message, Plasencia reportedly described Perry as a "moron" while discussing how much to charge the actor for ketamine. "I wonder how much this moron will pay," Plasencia allegedly wrote, adding, "Let's find out."
Matthew Perry (second from left) with the cast of 'Friends'
Source: NBC
These messages continued into early October 2023, just weeks before Perry’s death. In one exchange, Plasencia allegedly told Chavez that if their upcoming meeting with Perry went well, it could lead to repeat business. The messages reflect a calculated effort to maximize profit from Perry's addiction, with little regard for his well-being.
The Tragic Lead-Up to Perry’s Death
According to the indictment, Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine on multiple occasions, boasting about finding the “sweet spot” for the dosage while experimenting with different injection sites. On October 12, 2023, just days before Perry passed away, Plasencia allegedly administered an exceptionally large dose that caused the actor to freeze up and experience a dangerous spike in blood pressure.
Making matters worse, Plasencia reportedly left several vials of ketamine with Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, instructing him on how to inject the star. Iwamasa, who has also been charged, allegedly enabled Plasencia's scheme by helping distribute the ketamine over a two-month period in exchange for $55,000 in cash.
A Heartbreaking Betrayal
During a press conference on August 15, 2024, Los Angeles-based attorney Martin Estrada delivered a scathing condemnation of the defendants’ actions. “Defendant Plasencia was a medical doctor,” Estrada said. “He worked with another medical doctor, Defendant Mark Chavez, to obtain ketamine. He then worked with Mr. Perry’s live-in assistant, Defendant Kenneth Iwamasa, to distribute that ketamine to Mr. Perry. Over two months, from September to October 2023, they distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Mr. Perry in exchange for $55,000 in cash.”
Estrada went on to emphasize that Plasencia, as a licensed medical professional, fully understood the risks of what he was doing. “They knew what they were doing was wrong; they knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry. But they did it anyway,” he said. “In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being.”
A Tragic Reminder of the Dark Side of Addiction
Matthew Perry’s passing was a devastating loss to fans worldwide, who had long admired his candor about his struggles with addiction. This case serves as a tragic reminder of how vulnerable people battling substance abuse can be exploited by those driven by greed.
As the legal proceedings continue, it’s clear that the individuals involved in this case will have to answer for their actions. For now, the world mourns not just the loss of a beloved actor, but also the reality of how someone who was fighting so hard for his life was ultimately betrayed by those who were supposed to be helping him.
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