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Matthew Perry's parents have issued powerful victim impact statements as a doctor involved in supplying the actor with ketamine faces sentencing more than two years after the Friends star's death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who previously pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine to Perry in the weeks leading up to October 2023, is set to be sentenced on Dec. 3.
Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, and his stepfather, journalist Keith Morrison, described the depth of their pain in a letter submitted to the court. "How do you measure grief? Can you possibly provide any rational accounting? The bottom falling out? Yes, that," they wrote, reflecting on the struggle of watching Perry battle addiction throughout his life. They recalled efforts to support him through his challenges, but said "those greedy jackals come out of the dark, and all the effort is for naught; it all crashes down."
The couple called Plasencia "among the most culpable of all," criticizing the doctor for violating his medical responsibilities. They accused him of repeatedly meeting Perry in secret "for what, a few thousand dollars?" and referenced his alleged remark: "I wonder how much this moron will pay. Let's find out."
Perry's father, John, and stepmother, Debby, also shared a statement describing the actor as "a warm, loving man who was to be our rock as we aged." Addressing Plasencia directly, they wrote, "Matthew's recovery counted on you saying NO," and questioned his motives for supplying the actor with repeated doses. They urged the court to "extend your sentence beyond the mandatory time."
According to Plasencia's plea agreement, he provided 20 vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges and syringes to Perry and his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, between Sept. 30 and Oct. 12, 2023. Perry died on Oct. 28 from acute ketamine effects, with additional factors including drowning and heart disease. Federal prosecutors allege Plasencia and four others "took advantage" of Perry for their own "profit."
Plasencia's defense has argued that he has already lost his medical license, clinic and career, calling the treatment "the biggest mistake of his life." His attorneys maintain he did not supply the ketamine responsible for Perry's final overdose.
In their letter, Suzanne and Keith Morrison described visiting Perry's grave and finding small tributes left by fans. They wrote that "His story moved so many people," and said he "wanted, needed, deserved..a third act."
