A toxicology report has revealed the shocking details surrounding the sudden death of Liam Payne last month. The former One Direction member was found to have traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system prior to falling from a three-story hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.
The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office released a statement confirming that Payne’s body underwent comprehensive testing, including urine, blood, and vitreous humour analysis. His family was informed of the results before they were made public. Early reports had suggested the presence of pink cocaine — a mix of ketamine and other illicit substances — but this was not mentioned in the official statement.
Three individuals were detained in connection with his death: a hotel worker, a drug dealer, and a “friend” who had been posing as Payne’s manager. The singer reportedly spent time with this individual shortly before his tragic fall on October 16. The hotel worker and drug dealer are accused of providing the substances found in Payne’s system.
Authorities confirmed that the cause of death was “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage.” While the exact circumstances of his fall remain unclear, investigators stated that substances seized from Payne’s hotel room indicated a history of alcohol and drug use.
Payne was found in the courtyard of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, with hotel staff calling emergency services prior to the incident. In emergency call transcripts, a hotel worker described Payne as “high on drugs and trashing the room” and expressed concern for his safety, mentioning the balcony.
The singer had openly discussed his struggles with alcohol and suicidal thoughts in the past, revealing in an interview last year that he had attended a rehabilitation facility to get sober. “I have had a lot of time to recollect over those moments,” he said on Logan Paul’s podcast, noting he was nearly six months sober at the time. “I kinda had to go away to kinda get better.”
As a member of One Direction, Payne was part of one of the best-selling boy bands in history, with 70 million records sold worldwide. After the band went on hiatus in 2016, he pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album LP1 in 2019. Earlier this year, he released the single “Teardrops” and had a second album in the works.
Following his death, tributes from friends, family, and fans poured in. His One Direction bandmates shared a joint statement expressing their grief: “We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
