To the editor: While I applaud authorities for cracking down on those who supplied and administered the drugs in the heartbreaking overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, it seems to me that they mostly go after the offenders when the victim is a famous person.
Your newspaper has reported that people have been held responsible for the deaths of Mac Miller, John Belushi, Michael Jackson, Tyler Skaggs and, most recently, Robert De Niro's grandson.
In 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 108,000 people died in this country from drug overdoses. My 20-year-old niece was one of them, and although the police were called when she was found dead in her apartment, they did nothing to investigate where she had obtained the fentanyl-laced pills.
Again, I'm grateful that charges have been filed in connection with Perry's untimely death. I wonder how many people could be saved if authorities went after not just the people who charge $55,000 for drugs, but also the people who charge $55.
Kyle Colavitti, Simi Valley
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To the editor: We all support the capture of the “bad guys” who allegedly committed heinous crimes that led to the untimely deaths of actors Matthew Perry and Johnny Wactor. The perpetrators must be held accountable and pay the price.
While I support the investigation and prosecution of these acts, I am reminded of our two-tiered justice system, where fame and fortune unleash unlimited resources that result in swift action to hold individuals accountable.
I had a good friend who recently died of a fentanyl overdose in North Hollywood and no action was taken to hold anyone accountable. Was his dealer the same one who supplied Perry with drugs?
I witnessed catalytic converter theft in my neighborhood, and police officers told me they did not have the resources to investigate this crime. Were these the same people who killed Wactor?
All crimes deserve the same urgency and resources given to those in the public eye. Until then, it is fair to question the motives behind efforts to solve these tragic crimes: is it really “justice for all” or public relations justice?
Anthony Lucente, Studio City
