People Arrested in Connection with ‘Friends’ Matthew Perry & ‘General Hospital’s Johnny Wactor’s Deaths: Details

Five people have been charged in connection with the death of Matthew Perry. The beloved actor passed away last October due to “the acute effects of ketamine.” U.S. attorney Martin Estrada announced the charges during a news conference.

The accused include Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood. They face 18 criminal counts for allegedly giving ketamine to Perry in his final weeks. Also charged are Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Dr. Mark Chavez, and Perry’s acquaintance Eric Fleming.

Iwamasa and Fleming admitted to conspiring to distribute ketamine, with Fleming also charged with distribution resulting in death. Chavez will plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, with his arraignment set for August 30. Iwamasa could face up to 15 years in prison, Fleming up to 25 years, and Chavez up to 10 years.

Estrada stressed that ketamine should only be administered by medical professionals and revealed that some defendants tried to cover up their actions after Perry’s death.

Estrada issued a stark warning to those who irresponsibly distribute and administer ketamine. “You are playing roulette with other people’s lives, just like these five defendants did to Mr. Perry,” he stressed.

In another tragic case, four people were arrested for the murder of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor. The LAPD made the arrests after executing search warrants throughout Los Angeles.

Perry died of an apparent drowning on October 28, 2023. The actor, who is best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the sitcom “Friends,” was found dead in a jacuzzi in his Pacific Palisades residence outside of Los Angeles.

Law authorities said that they are conducting an autopsy, tests, and further investigations on Perry’s demise before announcing the official cause of death. However, a few days after the actor was laid to rest, his death certificate has been revealed.

The cause of the death of the actor in his death certificate has been listed as “deferred” and his date of demise as October 28, 2023, at 4:17 p.m. Perry had been open about his past struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse, but he spoke about how confident he was in his sobriety before he died.

Chief of Coroner’s Investigations Craig Harvey said no illicit drugs were found at Perry’s scene of death. However, he added that just because no illegal drugs were found doesn’t prove that there were none at any point in time.

Harvey revealed that authorities would test for prescription drugs. The death certificate shows that an autopsy is finished, but the toxicology report is still ongoing.

Other details on the death certificate are Perry’s marital status, which reads “never married,” his middle name Langford, and his highest level of education, which is a high school graduate.

The document says the movie star was in show business for 38 years and that the informant for his death was his well-known step-father Keith Morrison.

The death certificate also indicates that Perry was put to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. The private funeral, which took place on November 3, 2023, was attended by the close friends of the actor.

Perry’s fans would love to know what caused the demise of the five-time Emmy nominee and were keen to note that it was indicated as deferred in his death certificate. These fans feel like the cause of the actor’s death has become more mysterious due to the wording of the document.

Perry’s fans saw pictures of the actor’s death certificate online and commented about how cagy it seemed, especially since the cause of his death wasn’t elaborated.“Sounds like a cover-up,” a fan wrote.

Other fans said authorities were trying to cover up that he“died of a drug overdose.” This fan claimed the actor was a heavy drug addict as he had 50 to 60 relapses.

One fan speculated that Perry“was killed” since other stars like Whitney Houston were said to have accidentally drowned.“So tell me that don’t sound odd,” the fan added. Other fans had more ideas about what could have caused Perry’s death.

A fan said it was“probably internal complications” due to his past alcohol and drug abuse. Other fans argued that Perry had a“stroke” or a“heart attack” and then drowned. Most fans held on to the idea that the actor overdosed.

Perry’s pending toxicology report will give his fans more insight into his death when released. However, for now, his cause of death is deferred, which has caused many of the actor’s fans to be suspicious and have numerous speculations on what caused the demise of a person they loved and adored.

The suspects are Robert Barceleau, Leonel Gutierrez, and Sergio Estrada, all 18 years old, and Frank Olano, 22. Barceleau, Gutierrez, and Estrada were booked for murder, while Olano was charged as an accessory.

Wactor’s death shocked fans and colleagues. Police say he was shot “without provocation” around 3:25 a.m. on May 25, after finishing his shift at a local bar. He was walking to his car when he encountered three people trying to steal his car’s catalytic converter.

The senseless nature of Wactor’s death has sparked demands for justice. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the need to hold those responsible fully accountable for this heinous act.

Wactor had been working a side job at a rooftop bar and was leaving with his co-worker around 3:25 a.m. on West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street. When he saw three masked men near his vehicle, he initially thought his car was being towed.

He went up to the men to ask what was going on, but quickly realized the car was not being towed when one of the men pointed a gun at him. Acting heroically, Wactor put himself between the gunman and his colleague and took a shot in his chest.

The suspects were reportedly attempting to steal the catalytic converter from Wactor’s vehicle. But after shooting the actor, they fled the scene in another car. The actor was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. However, the suspects have still not been arrested.

Wactor’s younger brother, Grant, confirmed the tragic news. He was not surprised that his brother died helping someone because they were raised as “Southern gentlemen” who always put others first. “We’re Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself,” Grant said.

Grant and his grandmother Barbara did not know which bar Wactor worked at, but they knew he usually took on side gigs as a bartender. However, the brother knew his brother as a hard worker and a kind soul.

He reiterated, “My brother was probably the hardest-working person I’ve ever met in my life. He was a great brother and son. Anyone he touched, he made a great impact. He was as charismatic in real life as he was on camera. And he was always genuine, through and through.”

Wactor’s grandmother, Barbara, was distraught about the loss. She expressed. “We are completely devastated. He was just walking to his car. It’s senseless.”

The actor’s death has touched many, including some of his co-stars on “General Hospital” and fans of the show. Perry Shen, a fellow actor on the show, remembered Wactor as a “beautiful, beautiful soul.”

“Funny as all heck. Fit as all hell but also loved ice cream and ate all the junk I did as well. We all were cheated of many years with him,” Perry added.

Co-star Jon Lindstrom also expressed his heartbreak, writing, “Johnny was one of those rare young men in this business who was kind, unassuming, humble, and always thought about other people. A talented young guy who just wanted to share that talent with the world.

“I wish I had enough love to fill the hole that his loved ones must feel right now, but I know that’s impossible. Johnny will be missed on this plane. For a long time to come. R.I.P.,” he added.

Wactor is survived by his mother, Scarlett, and his brothers, Lance and Grant. His family and fans are left to mourn the loss of a talented and kind-hearted individual whose life was cut tragically short.

Wactor’s mother is still hoping for the suspects to be found. Her son Grant also hopes his brother will get justice. “I am glad in a way that this is getting the publicity so that it could shed some light that things need to change or find ways so that no one else has to experience this – whether it be a murder or being at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.

Despite the tragedy, Wactor’s legacy lives on through his prolific acting career. Wactor was in over 160 episodes of “General Hospital from 2020 to 2022. But outside of the medical series he also had many more acting credits. He appeared in “Siberia” (2013) and “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” (2016).

Additionally, he directed and wrote the music video “There to Catch Me” for The Nashvillains. He also received multiple accolades throughout his career, including nominations for Favorite General Hospital Actor at the Annual Soup Hub Awards in both 2020 and 2021.

Wactor’s character, Brando Corbin, gained popularity on “GH” but was eventually written off as the first victim of Port Charles’ serial killer, “The Hook.” He played the role from 2020 until 2022.

Reflecting on his time on the show, Wactor expressed his gratitude to fans. In a since-deleted Instagram video, Wactor thanked fans for their support, acknowledging their loyalty and engagement.

He praised the fans as the “greatest” in the world, expressing gratitude for their passion and support, whether they were excited or outraged by his character’s death.

He disclosed how lucky he felt to have been part of the show. “We get to show up and bring these stories to life and bring these characters to life. And it just makes our job that much sweeter. It’s already the coolest job in the world to get to act. To see how much you guys care and how much stake it has, I’m just so blessed and I’m gonna miss you guys,” he said.

Before he died, Wactor spoke about his exit from the medical series, expressing that he had “no bad blood” with “GH” for killing off his character. He also recalled his final moments on set.

The late actor shared that he gave a speech due to his meaningful experiences and relationships with the cast and crew. He anticipated wanting to say something because of his time there and admitted he felt a bit emotional while speaking.

Wactor was the latest “GH” star to pass away this year. Actress Robyn Bernard also tragically died last March. Robyn’s body was found in an open field behind a business block in San Jacinto, according to a Riverside County Sheriff’s police report.

She gained fame on “GH” for her role as Terry Brock, appearing in about 145 episodes from 1984 to 1990. Her final role was in 2002, for the movie “Voices From the High School,” where she played a psychologist. Soon after, Robyn chose to lead a private life and stayed out of the spotlight until her death at 64.