One Person Arrested in Connection With Matthew Perry’s Death Investigation

At least one person has been arrested over links to the death of actor Matthew Perry, who passed away from an accidental ketamine overdose last year, a law enforcement official confirmed to The Associated Press.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, said further details would be released at a news conference in Los Angeles later this morning.

The inquiry into Perry’s death began in May when Los Angeles police, working alongside the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Postal Inspection Service, sought to understand the presence of a high level of ketamine in the 54-year-old actor’s system.

Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub on October 28, 2022. Paramedics were unable to revive him.

The actor’s autopsy, released in December, revealed a fatal level of ketamine in his blood, consistent with the dosage used for general anesthesia during surgery.

Ketamine’s popularity as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain has increased in recent years. Sources close to Perry revealed that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy. However, the medical examiner determined that the level of ketamine in his blood could not be explained by a treatment received 1 1/2 weeks prior as it is typically metabolized within hours.

Perry was under the care of two doctors, a psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist who served as his primary care physician. No illicit drugs or paraphernalia were found at his home.

The coroner’s report ultimately concluded that ketamine was the primary cause of death, and ruled the death accidental with no foul play suspected. Drowning and other medical issues were listed as contributing factors.

Perry’s death brought renewed attention to his long battle with addiction, a struggle that began during his time on the iconic sitcom “Friends”.