Three people are under investigation in Argentina following the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, according to the country’s public prosecutor’s office. The individuals are facing preliminary charges related to the death, including “abandonment of a person before a death” and “supply and facilitation of narcotics.”
Payne, 31, died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Toxicology reports revealed that he had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of death. The findings suggest Payne may have lost consciousness before the fall.
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that his injuries were consistent with a fall from a height, ruling out self-inflicted harm or foul play. An autopsy and further investigation have been carried out, including a forensic analysis of Payne’s mobile phone, which provided insight into his activities during his stay at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where he was found.
Authorities have identified three individuals under suspicion. The first is someone who reportedly spent time with Payne daily during his visit and is suspected of both abandonment and narcotics facilitation. A hotel employee is also under investigation for allegedly providing cocaine to Payne on two separate occasions. The third suspect is believed to have supplied drugs to Payne on October 14.
The investigation has been extensive, involving over 800 hours of video footage, and interviews with two female escorts who were with Payne in the hours leading up to his death. The women stated that while they did not witness Payne using drugs, he did consume alcohol.
Payne, who had previously been open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health, had celebrated six months of sobriety in the summer of 2023 following a rehabilitation stint. His death occurred shortly before his planned South American tour, which had been postponed earlier that year due to a kidney infection.
As investigations continue, authorities are working through the legal process, with the possibility of formal charges pending. The suspects are yet to be publicly identified, and it remains unclear whether any are in custody.