Eight-Word Text Message Talking About Matthew Perry Sent by Doctor Arrested Over Actor’s Death

Matthew Perry | Source: Getty Images

Five people connected to the actor were taken into custody many months after his death.
Before his passing, an embarrassing text exchange making fun of Matthew Perry was discovered, which devastated online users.
One of his ketamine administering doctors saw him experience a bad reaction a few weeks before he passed away.

Five suspects were arrested on the morning of August 15, 2024, in connection with Matthew Perry’s death. Among them is a doctor who allegedly sent an incriminating text about the “Friends” actor before his death. The message received a negative response from fans.

Matthew Perry posing in an undated photo | Source: Getty Images

The narcotics investigation into Perry’s death led to the arrests, and the results indicated that ketamine’s effects were the cause of death. That same day, at a press conference, the US Department of Justice disclosed that the star’s death investigations had turned up evidence of a “broad underground criminal network” that had “took advantage” of Perry by selling him ketamine.

Kenny Iwamawa, Dr. Mark Chavez, Jasveen Sangha, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and Erik Fleming were among the suspects taken into custody.

Matthew Perry at Victoria’s Secret Phi Beta PINK party on October 18, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Califonia | Source: Getty Images

The Connection between the Five Suspects and Perry

Prior to his passing in 2023, Perry was reportedly residing in a Beverly Hills rented unit with his helper, Iwamasa. The actor was renting a house in Pacific Palisades for $49,000 a month while it was being refurbished. There, Imasawa, 59, shared a year of living with him.

According to sources, Iwamasa oversaw Perry’s business dealings for more than 25 years, and on October 28, 2023, it’s possible that he found the star’s body in his hot tub. Further investigation showed that Iwamasa had been giving Perry ketamine without the necessary training, for which he is currently under arrest.

According to reports, Dr. Chavez, a qualified physician who formerly ran a ketamine clinic, is being charged with helping to obtain the drug. In the meantime, Perry’s fatal ketamine dose is being sold by Sangha, aka “The Ketamine Queen.” Iwamasa is thought to have worked with Chavez and Sangha to get Perry the ketamine.

Another licensed physician, Dr. Plasencia, is accused of giving the late actor about 20 vials of ketamine, and Perry’s friend and “broker,” Fleming, has already entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of ketamine distribution that caused Perry’s death.

Suspects’ Incriminating Text Messages

When news of the five suspects’ arrests broke, and investigations into their text messages were revealed, netizens were dismayed to learn about the eight-word text that Plasencia sent to Chavez regarding Perry.

Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry at the NBC Fall Preview circa 1995 at the Lincoln Center in New York | Source: Getty Images

Social media users who read the text messages exchanged between the two doctors involved in Perry’s death were vocal about their feelings. Responding to a publication’s Facebook post on the matter, one person included a crying emoticon in their message.

Matthew Perry during the “Men in Black II” premiere in Westwood, California, on June 26, 2002 | Source: Getty Images

The individual stated, “So the people who he thought and trusted were his ‘friends’ were not his ‘friends’ at all, so so sad.” “What a sad story of a man that had so much to live for,” said someone another.

Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox Arquette during a party celebrating “Daisy Does America’s” premiere in West Hollywood, California, on November 29, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Disappointed with Perry’s deception, a Facebook user commented, “This is just so sad.” One reader expressed that the news had left them “Heartbroken.” Part of Plasencia’s attempt to sell Perry ketamine included the text message that he sent to Chavez.

Mathew Perry plays The Match Game at The UCB Theatre on November 9, 2007, in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

The US Attorney’s Office said Plasencia sent the text after learning of Perry’s interest in acquiring the substance. In 2023, Plasencia and Chavez texted each other while discussing the price they would charge the late star for the drug.

Matthew Perry at the Summer TCA Tour on July 24, 2012, in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Plasencia supposedly wrote to Chavez while Perry was battling his drug addiction, asking, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.” He allegedly said, “Let’s [sic] find out,” after that.

Matthew Perry seen on October 27, 2016, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

The prosecution states that Iwamasa waited for ketamine to arrive from Sangha in the months preceding Perry’s death. Perry’s death was reportedly four days away when Fleming told Iwamasa the material was “on its way to our girl.”

His reference to “our girl” turned out to be Sangha. Sangha allegedly sent Fleming a message after Perry passed away, telling him to “Delete all our messages.”

The five accused attempted to hide their activities, according to the authorities, by referring to ketamine with code phrases like “cans,” “bots,” and “Dr. Pepper.” It has been reported that Plasencia knew Perry was endangering his life.

A Telling Incident Weeks before Perry’s Death

16 days before to Matthew Perry’s passing, Plasencia allegedly knew that his life was in jeopardy because of an incident. US Attorney Martin Estrada said during a press conference that Plasencia had given Perry a narcotic injection once, and that when he did, something alarming occurred.

Plasencia watched the late actor “freeze up, and his blood pressure spiked” following his injection. According to Estrada, the physician seemed worried and told Iwamasa, “Let’s not do that again.”

The cause of Perry’s death is still being looked into.