Suspicious circumstances surround Liam Payne's death: Argentine prosecutors

Buenos Aires, Argentina: The circumstances of former One Direction singer Liam Payne's death are being investigated as suspicious, with possible drug involvement, according to Argentine prosecutors on Thursday. Payne, 31, was found dead on Wednesday after reportedly falling from the third floor of his hotel room.

As news spread globally, fans and media gathered outside the Casa Sur Hotel in the upscale Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. Payne's former bandmates released a statement expressing their devastation over his passing.

Police found Payne’s hotel room in disarray, with broken furniture and scattered items. They discovered packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, along with energy supplements and over-the-counter medications. The prosecutor noted signs of alcohol and drugs in the room as well.

Forensic teams collected a whiskey bottle, lighter, and cellphone from the courtyard where Payne’s body was found. The autopsy revealed he suffered from internal bleeding and 25 traumatic injuries, consistent with a fall, which were enough to cause his death.

While there were no indications of third-party involvement, the case was described as "suspicious" due to Payne's apparent substance use. The lack of defensive wounds suggested he may have lost consciousness before the fall, leading to the belief that he could have been experiencing a substance abuse episode.

Toxicology results are pending and may take weeks to be released. Medical examiners cited "multiple trauma" and "internal and external bleeding" as the cause of death. Authorities have interviewed three hotel staff members and two women who visited Payne hours before his death to piece together the events leading up to the incident.

Witnesses reported that Payne “jumped from the balcony of his room,” although police have not confirmed if this was intentional. They responded to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time about a guest who appeared to be intoxicated and acting erratically. A hotel manager described Payne’s condition in a 911 call as being “overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol… He’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.”

Agency