The new Matthew Perry documentary now streaming on Peacock, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, takes a closer look at the ongoing criminal investigation into the death of the Friends star, who was found dead in his hot tub in 2023, having drowned after injecting a lethal dose of ketamine. Perry had long been outspoken about his addiction issues, and even published a memoir detailing his drug abuse the year before his death. Now, authorities hope to hold his drug dealers responsible for this death.
The accused in the case are still awaiting trail, meaning that all the statements made by various lawyers and law enforcement in the documentary have yet to be proved by a court of law—a fact that gets repeated every time the documentary returns from an ad break. But though everything said is alleged, the indictment—which charges five people in connection with providing Perry the ketamine that led to his death—comes with some pretty damning evidence. The most egregious? Alleged texts between two of Perry’s doctors that make it clear they were taking advantage of his addiction for money.
Two doctors were charged in connection with providing Perry ketamine: Dr. Mark Chavez, who is said to have written Perry’s prescriptions, and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is said to have helped distribute the ketamine to him. In the indictment, law enforcement says they obtained some of the texts between Dr. Chavez and Dr. Plasencia, sent over Signal.
At one point, Dr. Plasencia apparently texted Dr. Chavez, “I wonder how much this moron will pay. Let’s find out.”
Ketamine treatment for depression and other mental disorders is legal and can be done safely, but only when administered by a medical professional in a monitored, controlled environment. It is still a controlled and addictive substance. Perry was not only receiving unmonitored ketamine doses at home (administered by his long-time live-in assistant, who was also charged in the indictment), he was also being charged exorbitant prices.
According to US Attorney Martin Estrada, one of the prosecutors in the case who is interviewed in the documentary, Perry obtained “approximately 20 vials of Ketamine” that cost him roughly $55,000. On top of that, he also obtained ketamine from another source: the so-called “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha, and an intermediary named Eric Fleming, both of whom are also charged in the indictment.
“After Mr. Perry died, you had Jasveen Sangha allegedly telling Mr. Fleming, ‘Delete all of our messages,’” Estrada said in the doc. “They knew what they did was wrong.”
In other words, officials are hoping to use the spotlight on Perry’s death to potentially target a much larger ring of drug dealers in the Los Angeles area.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine, and two counts of altering and falsifying documents. He pleaded not guilty. His lawyer claims Dr. Plasencia was trying to help Perry, and that he didn’t know Perry was obtaining ketamine from other individuals.
Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy was directed by Robert Palumbo, and executive produced from Ian Russell, Mike Griffiths, and Palumbo from ITN Productions. The 60-minute documentary special is now streaming on Peacock.
