Matthew Perry's Stepfather Reacts To Charges In Actor's Death: 'We Look Forward To Justice'
Matthew Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, is speaking out after authorities announced two arrests Thursday in connection with the “Friends” star’s death in October, when Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine.
“We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously,” Morrison, known for his work on “Dateline NBC,” told multiple outlets this week in a family statement.
“We look forward to justice taking its course and we’re grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew’s death,” he continued. “We’re hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message.”
The Justice Department said Thursday that physician Dr. Salvador Plasencia and a woman named Jasveen Sangha — identified as “The Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood for allegedly dealing drugs — have been charged in Perry’s death.
The defendants, who each face one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, joined three other individuals charged in the matter — Erik Fleming, Kenneth Iwamasa and Dr. Mark Chavez — who’ve either already pleaded guilty or agreed to do so, per the Justice Department.
Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, the department said. He allegedly said that he got the drug from Sangha and gave ketamine vials to Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant.
The Justice Department also said that Iwamasa, who has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with the drug on the day of his death.
The Justice Department said Chavez, who “previously operated a