3 People Charged in Connection to Liam Payne Death in 180-Page Indictment

Three people have now been charged after an investigation surrounding the death of Liam Payne.

The prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday, November 7, that three individuals had been charged with abandonment leading to death and the supply and facilitation of narcotics. According to the statement, nine searches had been conducted and the accused had been notified of the charges.

Prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea requested the three individuals’ deposition and arrest in a 180-page indictment submitted by Judge Laura Graciela Bruniard.

“The first defendant, a companion of the artist during his stay in Buenos Aires, has been charged with abandonment leading to death — a crime under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, punishable by five to 15 years in prison—in conjunction with the supply and facilitation of narcotics (Article 5, Section E of the Narcotics Law No. 23.737),” the statement read.

Liam Payne's Friend Charged After Investigation

The statement continued, “The second defendant, a hotel employee, is charged with providing Payne cocaine on two occasions while he stayed at the hotel, and the third defendant, also a narcotics supplier, is charged with two additional confirmed instances of cocaine supply on October 14. Both are charged with narcotics supply (Article 5, Section E of Law No. 23.737).”

The indictment detailed the efforts to “reconstruct the days Payne spent” at CasaSur hotel. Nine raids were conducted in Buenos Aires City.

“Judge Bruniard approved the prosecutor’s requested searches based on the presented evidence and took steps to notify the accused, prohibiting them from leaving the country,” the statement read. “Despite the weight of evidence—including visual, registry, medical, scientific, documentary, and testimonial evidence—investigators continue their work, including attempting to unlock Payne’s personal laptop and other seized devices.”

Investigators gathered multiple testimonies from hotel staff, family, friends and medical professionals and have reviewed over 800 hours of footage from security cameras and other public cameras as part of the investigation. Per the statement, a forensic extraction was conducted on Payne’s cell phone. Investigators also examined guest records and restaurant bills to determine who visited Payne and to look into his drinking and eating habits.

Authorities Investigating Who Sold Drugs to Liam Payne Before His Death

The prosecutor’s investigation showed “clear evidence of at least four instances of narcotics supply from third parties and other facilitation of addictive consumption by Payne’s direct circle during his stay at the hotel between October 13 and 16.”

Liam Payne.

The forensic team concluded that Payne’s death was caused by “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhaging” from his fall. “Three supplementary medical-legal reports requested by Madrea confirmed that all injuries were consistent with a high fall, ruling out self-harm or third-party involvement. The lack of defensive posture upon impact suggests Payne may have fallen in a semi- or fully unconscious state,” the statement read.

The statement continued, “In light of this, forensic psychiatry experts were consulted to determine whether Payne may have been in a diminished or unconscious state at the time of the fall, which the prosecutor believes negates the possibility of voluntary action on his part.”

Liam Payne's ‘Presumed Friend,’ 2 Hotel Employees Under Investigation

The new charges come hours after news broke that Payne’s friend had been charged. Argentina newspaper Clarin reported on Thursday that an unidentified friend of Payne’s had been linked as a possible supplier after the investigation conducted by the Buenos Aires National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office.

Payne died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 16. He was 31 years old at the time. His partial autopsy reportedly showed that he had “pink cocaine” — which typically mixes methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA — cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack in his system at the time of his death.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).