'Multiple people' could be charged in Matthew Perry's ketamine death, report says

The LAPD, DEA, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service have been coordinating an investigation into the actor's death at 54.

The investigation into Friends star Matthew Perry's death from acute effects of ketamine could soon result in criminal charges.

According to PEOPLE, a law enforcement source told the outlet that the investigation by authorities is "nearing its conclusion," and police believe "multiple people" should be charged.

The source added that the U.S. Attorney's Office would make the ultimate decision on whether to press charges.

A representative for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment to Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the investigation into Perry's death was ongoing but had no additional information available on the matter, and the DEA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Perry was ​​found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28 and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 54. At the time, authorities said there was no indication of foul play.

In December, an autopsy report revealed that Perry's death was caused by ketamine, and that drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine (a medication used to treat opioid use disorder) were also contributing factors.

The autopsy report also noted that Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion treatment around the time of his death, but because ketamine has a short half-life, the traces of the substance in his system couldn't have been from one of those treatment sessions.

Related: Friends stars remember Matthew Perry in emotional tribute posts: 'He made all of us laugh'

Last month, Los Angeles Police Capt. Scot Williams told EW that the investigation into Perry's death was never closed, despite a report suggesting the contrary. "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," Williams said in an email.

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Related: How Friends' Matthew Perry made salty Chandler the show's sweetest character

A five-time Emmy nominee, Perry was best known for his role as the sarcastic but sweet Chandler Bing on NBC's Friends, which became ratings hit and a cultural phenomenon during its 10-season run from 1994 to 2004. The actor published a memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in 2022, chronicling the highs and lows of his entertainment career and his experience with addiction. He also appeared in movies like 17 Again, Fools Rush In,  and The Whole Nine Yards, as well as on shows like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Odd Couple, and Mr. Sunshine.

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