News | Entertainment
13 Dec 2025 20:51
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Matthew Perry's parents have branded his doctor "among the most culpable of all" in their son's death

    The late Friends actor died from accidental drowning caused by the acute effects of ketamine use in October 2023, aged 54, and Dr. Salvador Placenscia was later one of five people convicted of crimes relating to his passing.


    Ahead of the medic's sentencing on Wednesday (03.12.25), Matthew's parents submitted victim impact letters to the court in which they discussed their grief over the loss of their son and their anger towards those who played a part in his death.

    According to Rolling Stone, a letter from the 17 Again actor's mother and stepfather, Suzanne and Keith Morrison, read: "How do you measure grief? Can you possibly provide any rational accounting? The bottom falling out? Yes, that. Here was a life so entwined with ours and held aloft sometimes with duct tape and bailing wire, with anything that might keep that big terrible thing from killing our first-born son, and our hearts with him.

    "And then those greedy jackals come out of the dark, and all the effort is for naught; it all crashes down."

    The pair branded their grief a "deep well" and told how Suzanne had warned Keith when they first got together that no man would come between her and her son. But instead, they wrote, Matthew's addiction and the people he trusted did instead, with Placenscia - who has admitted to injecting the actor with ketamine and selling him the drug "without a legitimate medical purpose" before his death - "among the most culpable of all."

    They wrote: "His story moved so many people. And he wanted, needed, deserved... a third act. It was ..in the planning. And then, those jackals.

    "No one alive and in touch with the world at all could have been unaware of Matthew's struggles. But this doctor conspired to break his most important vows, repeatedly, sneaked through the night to meet his victim in secret.

    "For what, a few thousand dollars? So he could feed on the vulnerability of our son...and crow, as he did so, with that revealing question: 'I wonder how much this moron will pay. Let's find out.' Some things are very hard to understand."

    Meanwhile, Matthew's father and stepmother, John and Debby Perry, wrote the 43-year-old doctor "didn't deserve to hear" their feelings and criticised his actions.

    They wrote: "[Matthew was] a warm, loving man who was to be our rock as we aged. An uncle to our grandchildren and the mountain his siblings could turn to. Our next patriarch.

    "Matthew's recovery counted on you saying NO. Your motives? I can't imagine. A doctor whose life is devoted to helping people? What ever were you thinking? How long did you possibly see supplying Matthew countless doses without his death to eventually follow? Did you care? Did you think? How many more people have you harmed that we don't know about? We ask the court to give you plenty of time to think about your actions by extending your sentence beyond the mandatory time."

    Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine in July, and could face up to 40 years in federal prison.

    Jasveen Sangha, a woman described by prosecutors as the "Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood, is due to be sentenced on 10 December, while Matthew's former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa will hear his fate on 14 January.

    In addition, another doctor, Dr. Mark Chavez, will be sentenced on 17 December, and Erik Fleming - a local man who acted as a go-between for Sangha in her ketamine sales to Matthew - will be sentenced on 7 January.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     13 Dec: David Corenswet had one disagreement with James Gunn on the set of Superman
     13 Dec: Cher is rumoured to be planning to tie the knot with toyboy Alexander 'AE' Edwards next year
     13 Dec: Dolly Parton is "excited" to return to work
     13 Dec: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mom has slammed "inaccuracies" in Netflix's new docuseries
     13 Dec: Gene Simmons has claimed a series of "bad decisions" led to Ace Frehley's death
     13 Dec: A woman who accused Cardi B of assault and battery has been denied a second trial
     13 Dec: Danielle Spencer felt "guilty" when she ended her marriage to Russell Crowe
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Kiwi triathlete Hayden Wilde has only just won the first world title of his career...but he's already looking ahead to next season's T100 World Championship More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand's economy is set to expand next year, as several key indicators point to economic recovery More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    David Corenswet had one disagreement with James Gunn on the set of Superman 20:50

    Entertainment:
    Cher is rumoured to be planning to tie the knot with toyboy Alexander 'AE' Edwards next year 20:20

    Entertainment:
    Dolly Parton is "excited" to return to work 19:50

    Entertainment:
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mom has slammed "inaccuracies" in Netflix's new docuseries 19:20

    Environment:
    Fire crews are battling a large blaze on Auckland's North Shore 18:56

    Entertainment:
    Gene Simmons has claimed a series of "bad decisions" led to Ace Frehley's death 18:50

    Living & Travel:
    The Breakers are focussed on minimising mistakes against South East Melbourne in tonight's Aussie NBL match 18:36

    Entertainment:
    A woman who accused Cardi B of assault and battery has been denied a second trial 18:20

    International:
    A wig, boat and private jet: The clandestine mission to get Maria Machado out of Venezuela 18:16

    Basketball:
    The Breakers are determined not to be lulled by their three game winning streak 18:06


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd