Payne died of “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” as a result of a third-floor balcony fall in Buenos Aires, Argentina
New details have been revealed about Liam Payne’s Oct. 16 death.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, a press release by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14 revealed that the former One Direction member’s toxicology results are in and have been communicated to his family.
In the 72-hour period before his death, Payne — who died in Buenos Aires, Argentina at age 31 — had traces of “alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants” in his body, according to the press release translated from Spanish.
“This conclusion was reached after the complete toxicology tests on urine, blood and vitreous humour,” the press release states.
On Oct. 21, sources confirmed to ABC News that a partial autopsy revealed Payne had “multiple substances in his system” at the time of his death. According to ABC’s reporting, one of the substances found was “pink cocaine,” a recreational drug that generally includes a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA — and not necessarily cocaine — per the National Capital Poison Center.
The sources also told the outlet that “an improvised aluminum pipe” used to ingest drugs was found in Payne’s hotel room.
The same Thursday press release stated that three people have been arrested and charged in Argentina in connection with Payne’s death after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony.
The suspects are charged with abandonment of a person followed by death as well as supply and facilitation of narcotic. However, they have not been named.
After Payne fell from the balcony and died, “illicit conduct was discovered from which three people were charged with the crimes,” the release said.
One of the suspects is “is the person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires.” A second suspect is a hotel employee accused of supplying Payne with cocaine, and a third is an alleged “drug supplier.”
Prosecutors also said in the release that “self-harm of any kind and/or physical intervention by third parties were ruled out” as contributing factors in his death.
A forensic doctor concluded that Payne’s death was caused by “multiple trauma” and “internal and external hemorrhage” as a result of the fall, per the release.
With relevant data gathered, prosecutors also concluded that the “Strip That Down” singer was “not fully conscious or was experiencing a state of noticeable decrease or loss of consciousness at the time of the fall.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
