Matthew Perry's Stepmother: Ketamine Case Caused Irreversible Pain

Matthew Perry's stepmother, Debbie Perry, has shared the profound and "irreversible" pain her family continues to experience following the actor's death on October 28, 2023.

She submitted a victim impact statement in a U.S. District Court filing on April 7, 2026, directly addressing Jasveen Sangha, also known as the "Ketamine Queen." Sangha pleaded guilty to charges in connection with Perry's death and was awaiting sentencing.

Debbie Perry conveyed that "there is no escape" from the family's grief, describing the pain as constant and unyielding. She urged the court to impose a maximum prison sentence on Sangha to prevent her from causing similar suffering to other families.

Matthew Perry's death was ruled an accident by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, with the acute effects of ketamine identified as the primary cause. Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects.

Sangha was among five individuals charged. She pleaded guilty to charges including maintaining a drug-involved premises and distributing ketamine, with one count specifically resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Her sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 8, 2026.

Other defendants include Dr. Salvador Plasencia, sentenced to 30 months; Dr. Mark Chavez, sentenced to eight months of home confinement; film producer Erik Fleming, who admitted to distributing ketamine leading to Perry's death; and Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Fleming and Iwamasa are awaiting sentencing.