Celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 10:42 10 Aug 2026 GMT
Argentine police have released new documents in relation to the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne.
Back on October 16, 2024, the pop star died after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
An autopsy revealed that the artist's cause of death was from "polytrauma," meaning several injuries that involve multiple organs or systems.
Additionally, a toxicology report confirmed he had traces of “alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants” in his system at the time of his death.
Now, new police files have been made public for the first time, with one particular photo sparking new theories about the then-31-year-old's passing.
Payne spent most of the prior 16 days in Argentina with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and businessman Rogelio “Roger” Nores, with the former claiming he was sober for the first two weeks of his stay before she returned to Miami on October 14.
A tragic trove of documents, photographs, sworn statements and official reports gathered by investigators after Liam died in Buenos Aires have now been shared.
A CCTV image showed the dad-of-one appearing hollow-eyed and stumbling through the corridor of the CasaSur Palermo hotel just an hour before falling to his death, as per the Daily Mail.
The report also features the effect his death had on loved ones, as his father Geoff told prosecutors that his son "went away" when he was fighting demons.
"He was not in control with what he did. He was not Liam," he claimed.
It was reported that Liam asked the front desk of the hotel for drugs, also ordering bottles of whisky from room service.
Messages from a WhatsApp group chat consisting of hotel staff members included a message from hotel manager Gilda Martin, who warned that Payne wasn't an easy guest to handle.
"This person is going to be very intense throughout his stay," she began.
"It’s important that we tell him 'no', always kindly and with excuses. This is to stop him from continuing to be aggressive. Or at least not so much."
Reception replied: "Will do whatever we can as long as he doesn’t get violent."
Previous snaps had revealed that Payne's room was "carnage", with sheets pulled off the bed, what looked to be blood on the bathroom sink, drug paraphernalia around the room, a blackened spoon, Coca-Cola can lids, and half-burned candles.
While five individuals were initially charged in connection with Payne's death, three suspects had all charges dropped, including Rogelio Luis “Roger” Nores, who was cleared of manslaughter and drug‑supply accusations.
The two remaining defendants are in plea negotiations in an attempt to secure shorter sentences.
A new image of Payne has sparked new theories around his death, with a grainy photo showing the singer in a green shirt and grey jeans, swinging around a pole outside the hotel at 3.21 AM in the early hours of the morning before his death.
A source close to the investigation claimed that police said the photo was "highly significant" as it showed Payne's upper body strength.
It suggested to them that instead of being suicidal, Payne may have confidently climbed out of his hotel room, believing he could hold his weight, before plunging to his death.
This is yet to be confirmed.
