Law Enforcement Believes 'Multiple People' Should Be Charged in Matthew Perry's Ketamine Death: Source (Exclusive)

Matthew Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54 from acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner

Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry. Photo:

Mike Pont/WireImage

A law enforcement source tells PEOPLE its investigation into Matthew Perry's ketamine death is "nearing its conclusion" and police believe "multiple people" should be charged.

The source says the U.S. Attorney's Office will make the ultimate decision on whether or not to press charges.

The U.S. Attorney's Office responded "no comment" on Tuesday, June 25.

The former Friends star died on Oct. 28 at age 54.

His manner of death was ruled to be accidental. An autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE in December showed he died from acute effects of ketamine, with other contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects, referencing a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, according to the report. 

In December, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner closed its investigation into his death, PEOPLE reported at the time. In May, the Los Angeles Police Department told PEOPLE that after the medical examiner released its report, the LAPD began an investigation into the circumstances of his overdose death.

In May, an investigative source with the LAPD told PEOPLE that the department had been working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. postal inspectors in an attempt to ascertain where the ketamine that killed Perry came from. The law enforcement investigation began in December, after the medical examiner's report.

PEOPLE's inquiry to the DEA on June 25 was not immediately returned.

Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry.

Frazer Harrison/Getty

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Perry was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death, according to his autopsy. A year before his death, he opened up in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing about his struggles with addiction.

“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.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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