Matthew Perry's Family Is 'Thrilled' About His Death's Accountability
By Afouda Bamidele on October 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM EDT
It has been a year since Matthew Perry's tragic death, and his loved ones marked the occasion with an emotional interview.
The late "Friends" star's family recently reflected on his life and death, noting how happy they are that justice will be served in his case. The actor passed away on October 28, 2023, from acute effects of ketamine.
Five people have been arrested and charged for their connection to Matthew Perry's death. Three people have pleaded guilty, while two remain adamant about their innocence and will face trial next year.
Matthew Perry's Family Hopes His Case Serves As A Warning To Drug Suppliers
Matthew's family — mother Suzanne, sisters Caitlin, Emily, Madeline, and his stepfather Keith Morrison — sat down for their first TV interview since his passing. Their conversation with "TODAY'S" Savannah Guthrie was shared on YouTube.
During the interview, Matthew's loved ones were asked how they felt about the "accountability" in the actor's death case following the five arrests. Without missing a beat, his mother declared, "I'm thrilled. His stepfather chimed in and said:
"What I'm hoping, and I think the agencies that got involved in this are hoping that people who have put themselves in the business of supplying people with the drugs that'll kill them, that they are now on notice."
"That it doesn't matter what your professional credentials are. You're going down, baby," he concluded. Keith, a "Dateline" correspondent, opened up about the impacts of Matthew's death days earlier.
Matthew's Stepfather Says His Death Was 'Shattering'
The Blast reported that Keith had addressed Matthew's passing in an interview with the actor's sister, Caitlin. He revealed the aftermath of his death left the family broken, saying:
"When [Matthew] suddenly died, it was incredibly shocking…anybody who has lost a child will tell you that, even if you are in some way prepared for the possibility, it's shattering."
"What we have decided to do is hang on to that determination and try to do something useful," Keith continued.He noted that Matthew "would like to be remembered for doing something to help people suffering from addiction."
The family launched The Matthew Perry Foundation's Canada chapter on that note. Caitlin described working for the organization as a way of keeping her brother close and described the feeling as "wonderful."
The Actor's Mother Recalls Their Final Moments
During the "TODAY" interview, Matthew's mom reflected on their final conversation. "He came up to me and said, 'I love you so much, and I'm so happy to be with you now," Suzanne recalled.
"It was almost as though it was a premonition of something. I didn't think about it at the time, but I thought, 'How long has it been since we've had a conversation like that.' It's been years,"she shared.
"I think there was something… there was an inevitability to what was going to happen next to him, and he felt it very strongly. But he said, 'I'm not frightened anymore.' And it worried me," Suzanne confessed.
Matthew Left A Seven-Figure Estate For His Family
Ahead of his first death anniversary, The Blast shared that Matthew had left a seven-figure estate for his family. His longtime business partner and estate executor, Lisa Ferguson, shared the news in the late actor's probate case.
In an accounting report, Ferguson declared that Matthew left $1,596,914.47 in assets. She noted: "There have been no creditor's claims filed and no unpaid creditor's claims, which meant the estate is solvent."
The executor stated that she had received written demands for all the payments, and all the debts were handled without the court's intervention. Additionally, Ferguson requested $28,000 for her services and the closure of the probate case.
Inside Matthew Perry's Death Case
As stated, five people were arrested for their involvement in the actor's death. The list included his longtime live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Dr. Mark Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Erik Fleming, and Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen.
Iwamasa, who reportedly found Perry dead, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to "distribute ketamine causing death." He confessed to administering the ketamine dose that killed the entertainer, noting he injected the drug twice around 8:30 am and 12:45 pm.
Dr. Chavez pleaded guilty to the illegal distribution of ketamine earlier this month. He acknowledged he obtained the drug through illicit means, identifying his sources as his former clinic and a wholesale distributor.
Given their recent interview, Matthew Perry's family is sure to fight for justice and ensure those responsible for his death are severely punished.
