Three People Arrested & Charged in Liam Payne’s Death — Report
Authorities in Argentina have charged three people in connection with the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died on October 16 in Buenos Aires.
Prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office recently announced that the investigation led to charges “with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.”
Liam Payne attends The Summer Party 2019 in London on June 25, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The first suspect, who accompanied Payne during his stay in Buenos Aires, faces charges of “abandonment of a person followed by death,” which could result in up to 15 years in prison.
A second suspect, a hotel employee, allegedly supplied Payne with cocaine on two occasions, while a third individual reportedly provided drugs to Payne twice on October 14, two days before his death.
Liam Payne attends the “I Am Bolt” world premiere in London on November 28, 2016 | Source: Getty Images
The prosecutor charged both the second and third suspects “with the crime of supplying narcotics.”
Before filing charges, investigators conducted searches, reviewed surveillance footage, and interviewed hotel staff, acquaintances, and medical professionals over two weeks.
They also examined Payne’s phone for calls, messages, and social media activity.
Authorities later reported that his injuries were consistent with a fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel, with no signs of third-party involvement.
Liam Payne attends “Inside My Head – The Concert” in London on September 20, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Further, toxicology tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system from the days before his death.
Police and firefighters are at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
During the authorities’ probe into the case, the artist’s father, Geoff Payne, traveled to Buenos Aires to reclaim his son’s body.
According to a November 7 report by the BBC, authorities released Payne’s body to his family on November 6, and they planned to fly it back to the UK.
