Matthew Perry‘s stepfather Keith Morrison has spoken out after multiple people were arrested in connection with the actor’s death on Thursday.
The Friends star died in October 2023, aged 54, from the acute effects of ketamine, and five defendants were charged with offenses related to the death.
WHAT HE SAID
‘We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously,’ the Dateline correspondent, 77, said in a statement.
‘We look forward to justice taking its course and we’re grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew’s death.’
Morrison concluded: ‘We’re hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message.’
Perry’s mother Suzanne Perry married Morrison in 1981 and the actor has credited his stepfather with bringing his family back together after his parents rocky separation.
Suzanne and Matthew’s father John Perry were married from 1968 to 1970.
Following the arrests, sources told USWeekly that Perry’s family friends were ‘blindsided’ and ‘saddened’ by the arrest of his personal assistant Kenneth.
‘When Matthew’s [previous] assistant left they didn’t hire a new one for a while,’ the insider added. ‘Matthew wasn’t acting at the time so someone was needed only to handle his life and around the house.
‘Kenny presented himself to be a decent person.’
Perry’s autopsy report in December revealed that he died from acute effects of ketamine, with his death officially ruled as accidental.
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ABOUT THE ARREST
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced charges against Jasveen Sangha, dubbed ‘The Ketamine Queen,’ and licensed physician Dr. Salvador Plascencia.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
Additionally, Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez face separate charges for their roles in the ketamine distribution conspiracy, as revealed by the Department of Justice.
Officials accuse the five individuals of deliberately supplying Perry with ketamine, taking advantage of his addiction, and trying to hide their involvement after his death.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada noted that Perry had relapsed into addiction in the fall of 2023, just before his death.
