Two sisters of the late actor Matthew Perry have accused his former assistant of leaving him in a hot tub after administering a lethal dose of ketamine, according to victim impact statements filed in federal court. Caitlin and Madeline Morrison detailed their sense of betrayal in statements obtained by People magazine and reported on May 26, focusing on the events surrounding Perry's death on October 28, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles.
Madeline Morrison, 37, wrote that Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, who served as Perry's live-in personal assistant, "had injected my brother with a lethal dose of ketamine and left him in a hot tub to die." She described the revelation as a profound betrayal, noting that Iwamasa was someone her brother considered family. The statements were filed ahead of Iwamasa's sentencing, which was scheduled for later that week.
Caitlin Morrison, 43, expressed uncertainty about Iwamasa's intentions but stated that he was "either escaping from something he knew he had done or he was willfully abandoning a vulnerable person in a dangerous situation." Both sisters emphasized how the details altered their understanding of the day Perry died at age 54.
Iwamasa was among five individuals indicted on federal charges related to supplying Perry with ketamine, the drug that caused his death from acute effects. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. The others included Jasveen Sangha, known as "The Ketamine Queen," who faced multiple distribution charges, as well as Erik Fleming, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and Dr. Mark Chavez.
According to the Department of Justice, Iwamasa had injected Perry repeatedly with ketamine despite lacking medical training. Four of the five defendants have already been sentenced to combinations of prison time and home confinement. Iwamasa's case remained pending at the time of the reports.
Perry rose to fame as Chandler Bing on the television series Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. His struggles with addiction were public, and the sisters' statements highlighted the trust placed in Iwamasa as a live-in aide during his later years.
The impact statements also referenced how the assistant's actions contradicted earlier accounts provided to the family. Madeline Morrison noted that everything she believed about the circumstances was a lie once the full details emerged from the investigation.
Federal prosecutors linked the ketamine distribution network directly to Perry's overdose. Sangha pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of ketamine, one count resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and one count of using her home for drug distribution.
Dr. Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, while Dr. Chavez admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute the substance. Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of distribution resulting in death. These pleas formed the basis for the ongoing sentencing proceedings.
The sisters' filings underscore the personal toll on the family, with Caitlin Morrison acknowledging she could not know if the dose was accidental but stressing the decision to leave Perry alone in a dangerous setting. The statements were submitted as part of the court process tied to the October 2023 incident.
Perry's death prompted a broader federal investigation into ketamine trafficking in the Los Angeles area. Officials said the drug was obtained through multiple channels involving medical professionals and others without proper oversight.
Family members have previously expressed being blindsided by the assistant's arrest, according to earlier reports. The new statements add layers to the account of how the actor was found unresponsive in his hot tub.
As sentencing for Iwamasa approached, the Morrison sisters' words focused on the loss and the shattered trust. The case continues to draw attention to issues of substance distribution and accountability in high-profile circles.