Toxicology tests pending in Mathew Perry's death, investigation to continue

A day after news of Mathew Perry's death, after being discovered unresponsive in a hot tub at his house in Los Angeles, shocked fans, police sources have yet to confirm the cause of his death. The cause of death has been "deferred", pending further investigation.

As officials waited for the results of the toxicology tests, the 'Friends' actor's post-mortem examination was inconclusive.

According to a LA Police spokesperson, as confirmed to CBS News, no obvious signs of trauma were reported. According to the LA County Medical Examiner's office, their files were last updated on Sunday and the update stated that the case has been deferred.

In cases of deferment, the post-mortem is generally completed but more detail is required before final reason for death is assigned.

According to a TMZ report, authorities at the scene also stated that no illegal substances where recovered from his home. Some of the other legal drug material recovered included anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, as well as a drug for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD is a disease in which airflow is blocked and it causes other breathing-related issues. It is a condition often linked to smoking, which Perry admitted to doing throughout his life.

On the day of his tragic passing, Perry reportedly spent two hours engaged in a game of pickleball at the Rivera County Club near his Pacific Palisades home. Upon his return home, he requested his assistant to acquire a new iPhone and prescription glasses. Tragically, just two hours later, his assistant discovered the star unresponsive in his jacuzzi and promptly called 911. The 911 dispatch recording, while heavily censored, did mention the term "drowning," providing insight into the circumstances surrounding Perry's untimely death.

Mathew Perry, best known for his portrayal of character Chandler Bing in the hugely poplar '90s TV sitcom, Friends. The TV show, followed the lives of six young friends living in New York City and it aired from 1994 till 2004. Its final episode was watched over 52.5 million times in the US. It has also been ranked as one of the most watched TV show from the 2000s.

Matthew Perry always remained open about his ongoing battle with substance addiction. In a 2002 conversation with the New York Times, he expressed his genuine fear of succumbing to this relentless struggle, stating, "I didn't embrace sobriety on a whim. I embraced it out of sheer terror that I might not see the next day."

His challenges with dependency, notably his reliance on Vicodin, left a considerable paper trail. After a watercraft accident in 1997, he found himself consuming up to 55 pills each day, a tipping point that prompted him to seek assistance through a rehabilitation program.

In 2001, he returned to rehab, describing it as hitting rock bottom. Perry's unwavering commitment to wrest control of his life spurred him to connect with those willing to lend their support. It wasn't until 2022 that he reluctantly unveiled that he had expended nearly $10 million on his path to achieving sobriety.