Matthew Perry's ketamine overdose death: Who is ‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha arrested in case
Matthew Perry's ketamine overdose death: Ten months on, five persons have been charged in connection with the death of beloved 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry due to fatal ketamine overdose in October 2023. Among those charged are medical professionals, Perry's personal assistant, and a woman identified as Jasveen Sangha. Prosecutors have identified her as a key figure in the distribution of the ketamine that led to Perry's death. Sangha has been arrested, it is learnt.
Who is Jasveen Sangha?
Jasveen Sangha (41) is at the centre of the investigation into 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry's death. According to court filings, Jasveen Sangha, who is nicknamed the 'Ketamine Queen', ran a drug distribution operation out of her residence in North Hollywood. Her home, described by the US attorney for California's Central District, Martin Estrada, as a "drug-selling emporium," served as a hub for illegal substances, including ketamine that reportedly caused Perry’s untimely death.
The federal indictment reveals that Sangha, who holds dual British and American citizenship, was involved in selling a variety of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and prescription medications such as Xanax. Investigators discovered that Sangha had been running her illicit operations since at least June 2019. Her activities came under scrutiny earlier in 2023 when she was caught selling methamphetamine in an unrelated case. This led to a raid on her North Hollywood residence, where federal agents uncovered a significant cache of illegal substances, including 79 bottles of liquid ketamine and nearly 2,000 methamphetamine pills.
'Ketamine Queen' Jasveen Sangha is facing multiple charges, including five counts of distributing ketamine. According to a BBC report, she sold 50 vials of the drug for approximately $11,000, fully aware of its potentially lethal effects.
Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic 1990s television show 'Friends', died in October 2023 at the age of 54. Perry had a well-documented history of struggles with substance abuse, which he openly discussed during interviews throughout his career. However, at the time of his death, he had been sober for 19 months and had not relapsed, according to sources cited in his autopsy report.
The autopsy, conducted in December 2023, concluded that Perry's death was caused by the "acute effects of ketamine." The report noted that Perry lost consciousness and drowned in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. Additionally, the autopsy mentioned coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, as contributing factors in his death.
- With inputs from agencies
