Three People Arrested & Charged in Connection to Liam Payne's Death — Report

Authorities in Argentina have charged three people in connection with the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died on October 16 in Buenos Aires.

Prosecutor Andrés Esteban Madrea of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office recently announced that the investigation into Payne's death led to charges "with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics."

The first suspect, who accompanied Payne during his stay in Buenos Aires, faces charges of "abandonment of a person followed by death," which could result in up to 15 years in prison.

A second suspect, a hotel employee, allegedly supplied Payne with cocaine on two occasions, while a third individual reportedly provided drugs to Payne twice on October 14, two days before his death.

The prosecutor charged both the second and third suspects "with the crime of supplying narcotics."

Before filing charges, investigators conducted searches, reviewed surveillance footage, and interviewed hotel staff, acquaintances, and medical professionals over two weeks.

They also examined Payne's phone for calls, messages, and social media activity.

Authorities later reported that his injuries were consistent with a fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Hotel, with no signs of third-party involvement.

Further, toxicology tests revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system from the days before his death.

During the authorities' probe into the case, the artist's father, Geoff Payne, traveled to Buenos Aires to reclaim his son's body.

According to a November 7 report by the BBC, authorities released Payne's body to his family on November 6 so it could be flown back to the UK.

Payne's family, who described themselves as "heartbroken," released a statement, "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."

Kate Cassidy, Payne's girlfriend at the time of his death, said they had been planning to marry within the year.

As Payne's tragic case continues to unfold, medical professionals who attended to him at the scene revealed the singer's cause of death.

Payne died instantly after his fall due to multiple injuries, including a fractured skull.

Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti stated that his team arrived at the scene as quickly as possible to provide medical attention and attempt resuscitation, but they were unable to revive him due to the severity of his injuries.

"Based on what the team saw, there was apparently a cranial fracture and extremely serious injuries that led to his immediate death," Crescenti explained.

More information emerged involving the musician's death, including details of a distressing 911 call from a panicked hotel staff.

According to the report received by Argentinian police, a man at the hotel was behaving aggressively and was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The hotel's head of reception made two calls; the first one reported was about a guest causing significant damage to one of their rooms.

After the first call disconnected, the police received another one.

In a second call, the reception head urged, "We need to send someone with urgency because I don't know if the guest's life is in danger because he is in a room with balcony, and we are afraid he could do something that threatens life."

Celebrities, including Charlie Puth and Paris Hilton, mourned Payne's death with heartfelt social media posts, expressing shock, heartbreak, and condolences to his loved ones.

Numerous distressed fans gathered at the hotel, many in tears as they lit candles and placed mementos at a makeshift shrine.

Some grieved and sang the One Direction ballad, "If I Could Fly," with the poignant line, "If I could fly, I'd be coming right back home to you."

Handwritten messages in Spanish and English were attached to a tree outside the hotel, where fans also left candles and flowers.

Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he shares with singer and former partner Cheryl Cole.

The former couple announced they were expecting their first child in November 2016, and Bear was born in 2017.

In a 2018 People interview, Payne discussed the joys and challenges of fatherhood, "I always wanted to be a young dad, but I didn't really expect that I'd ever be in this place."

The singer also humorously referred to himself as “Dada Montana” as he balanced his music career with being a parent.

In light of recent developments in Liam Payne's case, Argentinian authorities expect the three suspects to face court proceedings soon and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.