- Celebrities. Documents reveal the amount of money Matthew Perry had in his bank account on the day of his death
- Celebrities. "Multiple people" may face charges in Matthew Perry's sudden death, says police
Matthew Perry's death is uncovering a dark side of Hollywood's drug scene, with some well-known names implicated in the investigation into the "Friends" star's fatal ketamine overdose.
The LAPD, working with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Postal Inspection Service, is preparing to announce potential charges, which could include involuntary manslaughter. A source revealed to Page Six that aside from Brooke Mueller, who was questioned about her friendship with Perry but is not accused of any wrongdoing, another actress close to Perry is also under investigation.
This B-list star, who appeared on screen with Perry, was photographed with him at a doctor's office known for prescribing ketamine. The doctor's office denied having Perry as a patient and said, "We are not talking with any law enforcement about any cases at this time."
Investigators are likely to examine the actress's cell phone for text messages that could provide critical information. Former CIA and FBI special agent Tracy Walder explained that drug rings often use mail fraud to distribute prescription medication, a federal offense.
"Intent is going to be the question," Walder said. "They obviously knew what they were doing was wrong. However, did they actively know that by procuring this it would kill him?"
Involuntary manslaughter charges possible
Walder suggested that there could be involuntary manslaughter charges, carrying up to five years in prison. She noted the prevalence of drug trafficking via mail, where legal prescriptions are sold at inflated prices. "People pay a heap of money to buy drugs... There are whole networks, it's really disturbing."
Walder also speculated that Perry might have been exchanging prescriptions with friends. "He could easily have been procuring drugs through friends, 'if you give me money I will give you my prescription,' there is a whole market that way," she said.
Hollywood attorney Marty Singer, who worked with Perry for decades, emphasized the need for prosecution if anyone was involved in supplying ketamine to Perry. "Anyone who was involved in the inappropriate utilization of ketamine for Matthew should be prosecuted," he told Page Six.
Keith Morrison, Perry's stepdad and the host of NBC's "Dateline," denied involvement in the investigation. The death of his stepson has deeply affected Morrison and Perry's mother, Suzanne. Morrison described their grief: "It's with you every day. It's with you all the time."
Perry was found unresponsive in a Jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home on October 28. The autopsy revealed high levels of ketamine, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine as contributing factors.