New Delhi: A year after Matthew Perry’s sudden death, the spotlight is back on Jasveen Sangha, the infamous ‘Ketamine Queen’ who has been charged with supplying the drugs that killed the Friends star.
On 28 October last year, Perry was found face down in a pool at his Pacific Palisades home in Los Angeles. The autopsy report released in December had confirmed that the actor, best known for his role as Chandler Bing, had died from acute effects of the ketamine drug.
Authorities discovered cocaine, 79 vials of ketamine, and methamphetamine during a raid in March from 41-year-old Sangha’s North Hollywood apartment, a report in The New York Times has revealed.
Prosecutors alleged she had been a drug dealer for at least five years. Following Perry’s death, Sangha was indicted on charges related to the actor’s overdose, and distribution. If convicted, Sangha will face a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
In a statement, US Attorney Martin Estrada emphasised the dangers posed by drug dealers, saying, “They are gambling with other people’s lives over greed.”
Sangha has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to stand trial in March 2025. Her bail was revoked after a judge deemed her a flight risk and a danger to the community.
The lavish lifestyle of the ‘Ketamine Queen’
Despite her legal troubles, Sangha maintained an extravagant lifestyle, often sharing glamorous images on social media from trips to Japan and Mexico, as well as parties with celebrities. However, her home was described as an unremarkable midrise building in North Hollywood, from where prosecutors alleged she ran her drug business, said the NYT report.
Authorities claim that Sangha’s dealings continued even after the overdose death of another individual, Cody McLaury, who died in 2019 after purchasing ketamine from her. After Perry’s death, it is alleged she attempted to destroy evidence of her involvement.
Perry’s family has expressed relief after charges were filed against Sangha. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, said she was “thrilled” about the legal action, while his stepfather, Keith Morrison, urged that those supplying lethal drugs should be held accountable, regardless of their background.
Not long before her arrest in connection with Perry’s death, Sangha had posted a photo of a bracelet with mushroom charms, NYT reported. The caption of the photo read: “Pulling out old raver candy #ravetothegrave.”
“Prosecutors later wrote in a court filing that the post suggested Ms. Sangha would ‘persist in her drug lifestyle until death,’ and that the ‘#ravetothegrave’ hashtag was ‘a callous choice of words, considering that her actions have sent two victims to theirs’,” the report highlighted.
The investigation into Sangha continues, as prosecutors highlight the possibility of more victims linked to her drug distribution.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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