Matthew Perry’s death left unanswered questions; LAPD and DEA team on the trail

Dave Bennett/Getty Images

The book is far from closed with Matthew Perry’s death

More than six months after Friends Star died and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency are still investigating what happened last October.

“There is an ongoing investigation with the DEA,” an LAPD spokesperson told Deadline today.

Perry was found in a hot tub and died at his home in Los Angeles on October 28 at the age of 54. On December 15, 2023, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office declared that Perry died from “acute effects of ketamine.” The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine – a drug used to treat opioid use disorder – as causes of his death.

After confirming the joint investigation with the DEA early Tuesday, the LAPD just issued a more formal statement:

On October 28, 2023, the Los Angeles Police Department went to the residence of actor Matthew Perry to conduct a death investigation. On October 29, 2023, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Mr. Perry. On December 15, 2023, the results of the autopsy determined that Mr. Perry died from the “acute effects of ketamine.” Based on the Medical Examiner’s findings, the Los Angeles Police Department, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service, has continued its investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Perry’s death..

While details such as the official start of this phase of the investigation and the lead department have not yet been released, a law enforcement source told Deadline that “concerns have existed for some time as to how much ketamine was in the deceased’s system.”

Although many assume he was sober at the time of his death, the multiple Emmy-nominated Canadian-American actor had a long and well-documented history of battling alcohol and prescription drug abuse. In fact, shortly before his death, Perry had spoken out loud about his struggles and his desire to help others who were also battling addiction. In his memoirs, which were published as a bestseller in 2022, he described his past and present problems. Friends, lovers and the big terrible thing,