{"id":334425,"date":"2026-05-14T08:04:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T02:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=334425"},"modified":"2026-05-14T08:04:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T02:34:33","slug":"matthew-perrys-death-investigation-a-complete-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/14\/matthew-perrys-death-investigation-a-complete-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthew Perry’s Death Investigation: A Complete Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two months after Matthew Perry<\/strong> died at age 54 in October 2023, his death was ruled an accident. But that ruling proved to be removed from the tip of the story.<\/p>\n

A December 2023 toxicology report concluded that Perry died from \u201cthe acute effects of ketamine.\u201d The report noted that Perry had been receiving regular ketamine infusions to treat depression and anxiety, but his last infusion had taken place greater than every week before his death. The discrepancy left room for questions on how and why Perry had ketamine in his system when he died.<\/p>\n

In May 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that that they had opened an investigation into Perry\u2019s death. Three months later, five individuals \u2014 Dr. Salvador Plasencia<\/strong>, Jasveen Sangha<\/strong>, Kenneth Iwamasa<\/strong>, Erik Fleming<\/strong> and Dr. Mark Chavez<\/strong> \u2014 were hit with various federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.\n<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for an entire timeline of the investigation of Perry\u2019s death, including the punishments for some who played a job within the actor\u2019s passing:<\/p>\n

September 30, 2023<\/h2>\n

In response to court documents obtained by Us Weekly<\/em> in August 2024, \u201cafter learning\u201d that Perry \u201cwas serious about obtaining ketamine,\u201d Plasencia allegedly contacted Chavez about purchasing the drug \u201cin order that he could sell the ketamine\u201d to the actor. The docs also alleged that Plasencia texted Chavez, \u201cI ponder how much this moron can pay\u201d for the substance.<\/p>\n

After Chavez sold Plasencia, a licensed physician, \u201ca minimum of 4 vials of liquid ketamine, ketamine lozenges,\u201d syringes and gloves, the docs alleged that Plasencia left the drug with Perry\u2019s former personal assistant Iwamasa and taught him find out how to inject ketamine so he could administer it to Perry.<\/p>\n

October 2, 2023<\/h2>\n
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Iwamasa sent Plasencia a text message requesting to buy additional vials of ketamine.<\/p>\n

That very same day, Plasencia texted Chavez asking for more ketamine to sell to Perry.<\/p>\n

October 8-10, 2023<\/h2>\n

Plasencia sold quite a few vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, and met with each him and Perry at several locations, including Long Beach, California, where Plasencia allegedly injected Perry with the substance while they were in a automobile.<\/p>\n

The docs also stated that on October 10, Iwamasa contacted Fleming to buy more vials of ketamine. Fleming then texted Sangha, a.k.a. \u201cThe Ketamine Queen,\u201d to acquire the drugs.<\/p>\n

October 14, 2023<\/h2>\n

After delivering samples of ketamine to Iwamasa and Perry at his residence the day prior, Fleming allegedly drove to Perry\u2019s home to acquire the funds for the drugs. Fleming then drove to Sangha\u2019s \u201cstash house\u201d and purchased 25 vials. He then drove back to Perry\u2019s house and delivered the drugs, in response to the docs.<\/p>\n

October 23, 2023<\/h2>\n

Iwamasa texted Fleming asking to buy more ketamine, allegedly asking via text, \u201cCan we do the identical as last time over the subsequent two days?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fleming then traveled to Perry\u2019s home to select up money from Iwamasa.<\/p>\n

October 24, 2023<\/h2>\n

Fleming allegedly bought one other 25 vials of ketamine from Sangha, then drove back to Perry\u2019s home to drop off the drugs.<\/p>\n

October 25-27, 2023<\/h2>\n

Court docs alleged that Iwamasa administered Perry \u201ca minimum of\u201d six injections of ketamine on October 25, October 26 and October 27.<\/p>\n

October 28, 2023<\/h2>\n

Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. He was pronounced dead later that day.<\/p>\n

In documents obtained by Us<\/em>, it was alleged that Iwamasa injected Perry with \u201cmultiple doses of ketamine he received\u201d from Fleming and Sangha, \u201cleading to the death and serious bodily injury\u201d of the late actor. The docs also alleged that Plasencia provided the syringes.<\/p>\n

That very same day, Sangha instructed Fleming to \u201cdistance themselves from selling ketamine\u201d to Perry, including deleting digital evidence on their cell phones.<\/p>\n

October 30, 2023<\/h2>\n

Fleming allegedly texted Sangha asking how long ketamine stays in someone\u2019s system since a \u201cthree month tox screening\u201d can be performed on Perry.<\/p>\n

December 2023<\/h2>\n

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner\u2019s office released a toxicology report concluding that Perry died from \u201cthe acute effects of ketamine.\u201d The actor\u2019s death was ruled an accident, with drowning, coronary artery disease and the consequences of buprenorphine (which is used to treat opioid use) listed as contributing aspects.<\/p>\n

May 2024<\/h2>\n

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that that they had opened an investigation into Perry\u2019s death, focusing specifically on how Perry obtained the ketamine present in his system when he died.<\/p>\n

August 15, 2024<\/h2>\n
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The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Central District of California shared a press release<\/a> announcing that Dr. Salvador Plasencia<\/strong>, a licensed physician, and Jasveen Sangha<\/strong>, a.k.a. \u201cThe Ketamine Queen,\u201d an alleged drug dealer, were arrested on August 15 in reference to Perry\u2019s death. Each Plasencia and Sangha were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.<\/p>\n

Sangha was also charged with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine; while Plasencia was also charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.<\/p>\n

The press release also named three other individuals who had been individually charged in connection to Perry\u2019s death: Iwamasa, his acquaintance Fleming, and Dr. Chavez, one other physician.<\/p>\n

Fleming pleaded guilty on August 8 to at least one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine leading to death. In response to the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the Central District of California, Fleming admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry.<\/p>\n

Iwamasa pleaded guilty on August 7 to at least one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, and admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training, including on the day he died. Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to at least one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.<\/p>\n

United States Attorney Martin Estrada<\/strong> said in an announcement: \u201cThese defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being. Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people\u2019s lives over greed. This case, together with our many other prosecutions of drug dealers who cause death, send a transparent message that we’ll hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

August 30, 2024<\/h2>\n
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Chavez, one among the doctors arrested in reference to the death of Perry, appeared in a Los Angeles court on Friday, August 30, after reaching a deal to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors, in response to the Associated Press<\/a>. (Though he agreed to plead guilty, he didn’t enter his plea during his court appearance, and can accomplish that at a date to be determined at a later time.)<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s incredibly remorseful,\u201d Chavez\u2019s lawyer, Matthew Binninger<\/strong> said while the doctor, who agreed to show over his medical license, stood by his side. \u201cHe\u2019s attempting to do every part in his power to right the incorrect that happened here. He didn\u2019t accept responsibility today but only since it wasn\u2019t on the calendar. He\u2019s doing every part in his power to cooperate and help with this example.\u201d<\/p>\n

June 16, 2025<\/h2>\n

Plasencia made a plea cope with the Department of Justice, and faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, Deadline<\/em><\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the earliest opportunity requested by the USAO and provided by the Court, appear and plead guilty to Counts Six, Eight, Nine, and Ten of the primary superseding indictment in United States v. Salvador Plasencia, which each charge defendant with distribution of ketamine,\u201d the U.S. Attorney\u2019s office for the Central District of California stated in a plea agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a part of the agreement, the DOJ intends to \u201crecommend a two-level reduction within the applicable Sentencing Guidelines offense level\u201d to the judge. This suggestion could possibly reduce Plasencia\u2019s sentence by several years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Chavez and Iwamasa, who previously submitted guilty pleas, are on account of be sentenced in fall 2025.<\/p>\n

July 23, 2025<\/h2>\n

One month after Plasencia took the plea deal, he pleaded guilty to 4 counts of distribution of ketamine.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry,\u201d Plasencia attorney, Karen Goldstein<\/strong>, said in an announcement to ABC News. \u201cHe’s fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plasencia will remain out on bond until his sentencing on December 3, 2025. He’s facing as much as 40 years behind bars. Along with the conviction, Plasencia will hand over his medical license. In response to his lawyer, Plasencia recognized his \u201cfailure to guard\u201d Perry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Dr. Plasencia was not treating Mr. Perry on the time of his death, he hopes his case serves as a warning to other medical professionals and results in stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in an effort to prevent future tragedies like this one,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n

September 3, 2025<\/h2>\n

Sangha pleaded guilty to 5 federal charges in connection to Perry\u2019s death, in response to the Associated Press. She was charged with three counts of distribution of ketamine, one count of distribution of ketamine leading to death and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 10.<\/p>\n

December 3, 2025<\/h2>\n

Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months, nearly two and half years, in prison, per the Los Angeles Times<\/em>. The doctor may also serve two years of supervised release following his time behind bars.<\/p>\n

April 8, 2026<\/h2>\n

A federal judge sentenced Jasveen Sangha, higher referred to as \u201cKetamine Queen,\u201d to fifteen years in prison after she pleaded guilty to selling Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese weren’t mistakes,\u201d Sangha told the judge, per the Associated Press<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThey were horrible decisions [which] shattered people\u2019s lives and the lives of their family and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Sangha\u2019s sentencing, Matthew\u2019s stepmother, Debbie Perry<\/strong>, filed a victim impact letter with the court.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pain you\u2019ve caused to a whole bunch, perhaps hundreds, is irreversible,\u201d she wrote in a statement obtained<\/span> by Us Weekly<\/i>. \u201cThere isn’t a joy to be found, no light within the window. They won\u2019t be back. That thought comes through our day on a regular basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

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