Sources revealed that several agencies, including the DEA, U.S. Postal Service, and LAPD, executed search warrants, seizing electronic devices to trace the source of the ketamine that led to Matthew Perry’s death. Following their investigation, authorities in Los Angeles have made an arrest.
NBC News reported on Thursday morning that a person in Southern California was arrested in connection with Perry’s accidental overdose. The name of the individual, along with other details, will be released at a news conference in Los Angeles later today, Aug. 15.
On October 28, the beloved actor was found by an assistant face down in his hot tub, and paramedics who were called immediately declared him dead. He was 54.
In May, the Los Angeles Police Department mentioned that they, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Service, would begin examining possible causes of Perry’s sudden death.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office stated in an autopsy report released in December that the Friends star had died of “acute effects of ketamine.” The medical examiner’s office also noted that drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine, which is used to treat drug addiction and pain, had contributed to his death.
Perry had a history of drug and alcohol addiction, which he wrote about in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
“I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side again,” Perry told PEOPLE for a 2022 cover story. “I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober—and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction—to write it all down. I was pretty certain that it would help people if I did.”
Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression, but the ketamine found in his system at the time of his death was not prescribed and was at levels used for general anesthesia. According to the medical examiner’s report, the actor’s most recent session had been a week and a half prior to his death.
The investigation uncovered text messages detailing the illegal acquisition of ketamine, including discussions about the price Perry would pay. Authorities have arrested several dealers and one doctor involved in supplying the drug.
