Matthew Perry’s former assistant, who he once briefly dated, has claimed a ‘whole network’ of doctors needs to be investigated following the Friends star’s tragic death.
The late actor – who publicly struggled with addiction up until his death – died aged 54 in October 2023 from the ‘acute effects of ketamine’, an autopsy later revealed.
Five people have been charged in connection with his death including his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, Doctor Jasveen Sangha aka ‘The Ketamine Queen’, Doctor Salvador Plasencia, Doctor Mark Chavez, and a street dealer Erik Fleming.
Now, Kayti Edwards, 47, who dated the Chandler Bing star in 2006, acted as his assistant in 2011 and remained friends with him up to his death, has warned of a wider conspiracy that must be brought down.
As she told the US Mirror in a damning new interview, Perry once confided in her that he was ‘with the doctors’.
She continued: ‘There’s a whole network of people beyond those facing criminal charges who the police need to investigate.
‘Detectives need only delve back into his medical history. There are so many more doctors who have been on his books over the years who will be terrified right now. Whenever he was in active addiction, he knew instantly where to turn. It’s a scandal.’
The longtime friend, who is also the stepdaughter of actor Julie Andrews, explained that before ketamine ‘unscrupulous doctors’ would overprescribe Perry prescription drugs like Vicodin.
His relationship with health professionals meant she wasn’t ‘surprised’ when several doctors were charged in connection with his death.
‘His addictive brain would think, “well, it was prescribed from a doctor so I can take it.” In his head, it wasn’t like he was out on the street, scoring drugs,’ she added.
Edwards also shone her suspicion on the assistant, questioning why there was no ‘drug paraphernalia’ left around the scene of his death.
‘If you have given him a big shot, there would be a needle and evidence of ketamine in the house. Where did it all go? Why did the assistant shoot him up with all those drugs and leave,’ she questioned.
She also recounted her own experience, sharing that she would ‘always stay’ with Perry after he had taken drugs in case he overdosed or needed her to call 911.
His assistant Iwamasa, 59, has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine causing death after ‘repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training’.
Iwamasa also admitted to ‘performing multiple injections’ on the day Perry died.
Recently obtained court documents also show he is facing 15 years in prison after allegedly cleaning up the scene of Perry’s death, including evidence of syringes and ketamine vials.
Meanwhile, text exchanges have been procured between
At one point Plasencia messaged Chavez: ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay’ and ‘let’s find out’.
Plancesica was charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records connected to the investigation, as well as one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
He pled not guilty during a court appearance.
As for Chavez, he has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine according to the US Attorney, Martin Estrada.
He also alleged that Sangha ‘sold approximately 50 vials of ketamine to Perry for 11,000 dollars (£8,553) in cash.’She has been denied bond.
Sangha, who faces 10 years to life imprisonment, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Finally, Fleming also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, and could face up to 25 years behind bars.
As laid out by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram: ‘Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials.’
Elsewhere, Estrada echoed that these individuals cared more about ‘profiting off Perry’ over his ‘wellbeing’.
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