Liam Payne's death in Argentina leads to arrest of 3 suspects, says prosecutor's office

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: Argentine authorities have arrested three people in connection with the death of Liam Payne, who fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16.

According to a press release from Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, November 7, the suspects face charges of abandonment of a person followed by death, as well as supply and facilitation of narcotics.

Who are the 3 suspects charged in connection to Liam Payne's death?

The names of the suspects have not been disclosed.

However, authorities indicated that one of the suspects was a close acquaintance who accompanied Payne during his stay in Buenos Aires, another was a hotel employee accused of providing him with cocaine, and the third was an alleged drug supplier.

According to prosecutors, a toxicology report found that Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of his death.

Authorities believe Payne was in an altered state, noting in the release that “Payne was not fully conscious or was experiencing a state of noticeable decrease or loss of consciousness at the time of the fall,” as per People.

Following his fall, police conducted nine raids as part of the investigation, aiming to reconstruct Payne’s final days at the Casa Sur hotel on Costa Rica Street, where he had been staying from October 13 to October 16.

Investigators rule out self-harm and physical intervention

Investigators ruled out self-harm or physical intervention by others as contributing factors in Liam Payne’s fall, focusing instead on alleged negligence and illicit activities involving those around him.

Prosecutors are continuing to investigate Payne’s final hours and identify any role that his companions may have played in events leading up to his death.

On the day of his tragic death, a hotel guest overheard the singer say, “I used to be in a boy band…that’s why I’m so f****d up,” shortly before the fatal fall from the balcony of his trashed hotel room.

The late One Direction star, who has been open about his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse in the past, was found dead from multiple traumas, including massive internal and external bleeding.

When officers arrived at the scene, Payne's hotel room was found in complete disarray, with the television smashed and drug paraphernalia scattered throughout the space, reported the New York Post.

Payne leaves behind one son, Bear, whom he shared with former partner Cheryl Cole.