Charges in ‘Friends’ actor’s death possible as investigation nears close

LOS ANGELES – An investigation launched in May into the death of actor Matthew Perry is nearing an end and reportedly could result in charges soon.

Investigators want to know how Perry, famous for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the long-running hit "Friends," got so much ketamine in his system.

A decision on charges will be made by the U.S. attorney's office, Los Angeles police sources told ABC News . The U.S. attorney could also refer the case back to state prosecutors if they do not choose to file federal charges.

Perry, 54, died on Oct. 28, 2023 . Paramedics, called to the scene by one of Perry's assistants, immediately declared him dead.

An autopsy listed the presence of ketamine as the primary cause of death, which was ruled an accident with no foul play suspected. Drowning and other medical issues were contributing factors, the Los Angeles coroner said. Perry was found in a hot tub.

The amount of ketamine in Perry's blood was at a level similar to what is used for general anesthesia during surgery.

Investigators launched their probe into the death of "Friends" star to determine how he received the supply of ketamine that killed him, Los Angeles police said in May. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service also are part of the investigation.

USPS's inclusion in the investigation may indicate that drugs or payments were sent by mail at some stage.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that can distort the user's sense of sight and sound and is used medically to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.