The parents of late ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry have submitted emotionally charged victim impact statements to a California court ahead of the sentencing of Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty to distributing the ketamine that contributed to Perry’s fatal overdose in October 2023.
In separate filings submitted Wednesday, Perry’s family members expressed profound grief and outrage at the medical professional’s actions. His father John Perry and stepmother Debbie described how the loss had ‘devastated’ their family, robbing them of their ‘next patriarch.’ They directly challenged Plasencia’s medical ethics, stating: ‘Matthew’s recovery counted on you saying NO. Your motives? I can’t imagine. A doctor whose life is devoted to helping people?’
Perry’s mother Suzanne and stepfather Keith Morrison, a veteran journalist, employed even stronger language, characterizing Plasencia as a ‘jackal’ who repeatedly violated his Hippocratic oath. Their statement highlighted disturbing text messages included in court records where the physician referred to Perry as a ‘moron’ while negotiating drug payments.
Plasencia represents the first sentencing among five defendants charged in a comprehensive federal investigation into the underground ketamine network that supplied the actor. Court documents reveal Plasencia—known as ‘Dr. P’—not only administered ketamine injections at Perry’s home and in a Long Beach aquarium parking lot but also instructed the actor’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa (who also pleaded guilty), on proper administration techniques.
Between September 30 and October 12, 2023, prosecutors state Plasencia supplied twenty 5ml vials of ketamine (100mg/ml concentration), ketamine lozenges, and syringes to Perry and his assistant. This occurred while the actor was legally prescribed ketamine for depression treatment but began seeking excessive quantities beyond medical recommendation.
The investigation uncovered an elaborate drug distribution operation headed by a woman prosecutors dubbed the ‘Ketamine Queen,’ who operated a ‘drug-selling emporium’ from her Los Angeles residence. All five defendants have entered guilty pleas, with Plasencia facing up to 40 years imprisonment—though prosecutors have recommended a three-year sentence.
Perry, renowned for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom ‘Friends,’ was discovered deceased in his Los Angeles hot tub on October 28, 2023, following decades battling depression and substance addiction. His family noted the actor had been pursuing recovery and was planning an acting comeback before his tragic demise.