Matthew Perry's Cause Of Death: Law Enforcement Investigating Drug Origin
By Afouda Bamidele on May 21, 2024 at 8:15 AM EDT
Updated on May 31, 2024 at 2:41 PM EDT
Authorities are still investigating a crucial part of Matthew Perry's death despite the case being officially closed in January.
It has been seven months since the "Friends" star was found unresponsive in his hot tub; however, law enforcers are still investigating the origin of the drug that led to his death.
Law enforcement officials are still investigating Matthew Perry's death due to concerns about his ketamine use.
Authorities Are Looking Into The Ketamine That Influenced Matthew Perry's Death
According to law enforcement sources, investigations into where Matthew Perry got the ketamine that influenced his death have been going on for months. However, it is unclear how far cops have gone in the case.
Their main questions are who provided the "Friends" star with the drug and under what circumstances. To solve this mystery, authorities have reportedly interviewed some key figures in Hollywood who have a history of drug use or abuse.
It is unclear how these figures fit into the puzzle or if they were close pals of Perry's; however, the insiders stressed that they are not necessarily the actual source of ketamine.
Instead, investigators approached them because they could have information leading to the source. It remains to be seen how helpful these Hollywood figures will be as no arrests have been made to date, per TMZ.
The Late Actor's Death Case Was Closed In January
Back in January, The Blast reported that the police investigation into Perry's death had officially been closed. The L.A. Police Department confirmed the end of their investigation in a statement, noting the entertainer's death had been ruled as an "accident."
The L.A. County Medical Examiner-Coroner echoed similar sentiments on their website, revealing that the Perry death case was "closed." Online records showed the actor's cause of death was attributed to the "acute effects of ketamine."
Perry's demise also included contributing factors like drowning, coronary artery disease, and the impact of buprenorphine, a medication for opioid addiction. However, the most concerning part was the ketamine in his system.
Perry Had High Levels Of Ketamine In His System
According to his death records, Perry had similar levels of ketamine to that of a hospital patient undergoing general anesthesia. The drug levels were measured at 3,540 ng/ml in peripheral blood and 3,271 ng/ml in central blood.
The medical examiner clarified that these numbers were elevated above average as a patient under general anesthesia would have a standard blood ketamine level in the range of 1,000 - 6,000 ng/ml.
As for the contributing factors to his death, drowning and coronary artery disease were listed due to the potential submersion during unconsciousness and "exacerbation of ketamine-induced myocardial effects on the heart."
"Buprenorphine effects are listed as contributory, even though not at toxic levels, due to the additive respiratory effects when present with high levels of ketamine," the medical examiner revealed.
Why Did The 'Friends' Star Have Ketamine In His System?
Before his passing, Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression. However, the medical examiner clarified that his last session occurred a week and a half before his death.
The examiner stressed that the drug stayed in his system for a short duration, between three to four hours. This revelation implies Perry got his last dose of ketamine from a different source, hence the police investigation into the drug's origin.
The late actor opened up about his ketamine treatments for the first time in his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing." He noted it helped him ease pain and depression but confessed it wasn't the best choice to do so.
Matthew Perry's Last Real Estate Purchase Has Returned To The Market
As The Blast shared, Perry's last real estate acquisition, made shortly before his death, has returned to the market. On May 31, 2023, he purchased the Hollywood Hills mansion for $4,995,000.
The property, situated at 1479 Rising Glen Road, spans over 2,566 square feet on a generous 9,622 square foot lot. The mansion features three bedrooms and four bathrooms alongside an array of luxuries.
It also boasts a seamless blend of classic architectural design with modern elements highlighted by walls of glass enveloping a sun-soaked patio. However, this swanky pad is back on the market and seeking a new owner, marking the final chapter in the Perry's property portfolio.
