Documents reveal Matthew Perry’s heartbreaking final words

Documents reveal Matthew Perry’s heartbreaking final words

The last known words of Matthew Perry, who died in October of an accidental overdose following repeated ketamine injections, were revealed in court documents after five people were charged in connection with the actor’s death.

According to a plea agreement reported by several media outlets last week, the actor’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute lethal ketamine, said Perry’s last words were, “Give me a big shot.”

The late “Friends” star struggled with drug problems for years and documented his battle with addiction in his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” On October 28, he was found dead in his hot tub by Iwamasa.

Perry was found dead in his hot tub on October 28.
Perry was found dead in his hot tub on October 28.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press

The Los Angeles County coroner confirmed in December that Perry died from the “acute effects of ketamine.” The Justice Department announced last Thursday that Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry with the drug “multiple times” on the day of his death.

Other defendants charged in connection with the actor’s death include alleged drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha and doctors Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia. A fifth defendant, Erik Fleming, said he obtained 50 vials of ketamine from Sangha and gave them to Iwamasa.

If convicted, Sangha could face life imprisonment, while the other defendants face prison sentences of up to 10 to 25 years.

Plasencia in particular is said to have sent callous messages to Chavez after learning of Perry’s interest in purchasing ketamine.

“In text messages to Chavez,” the Justice Department wrote in its Thursday press release, “Plasencia discussed how much to charge Perry for the ketamine, adding, ‘I wonder how much this idiot is going to pay.'”

Iwamasa, meanwhile, reportedly admitted to giving Perry “six to eight ketamine injections per day” and found the actor “unconscious in his apartment at least twice” in the weeks before the fatal dose, according to the Justice Department.

“We were, and still are, heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it helped us to know that law enforcement took this case very seriously,” said Keith Morrison, the actor’s stepfather, in response to the charges. “We look forward to justice taking its course.”

Do you need help with substance use disorders or mental health issues? In the US, call 800-662-HELP (4357) for National SAMHSA Helpline.

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