Explosive police files reveal the final, harrowing hours of former One Direction singer Liam Payne's life, detailing a severe spiral of drug and alcohol abuse before his death in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024. The trove of over 3,000 documents, photographs, and sworn statements offers a detailed, often graphic, account of his final days.
Payne, who had amassed a significant fortune and was a beloved public figure, was reportedly in Argentina to renew his U.S. visa and attend a concert by former bandmate Niall Horan. After a two-week holiday with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, he began to spiral when she left. He checked into the CasaSur Hotel on October 14, after being asked to leave a previous hotel for belligerent behavior.
Descent into Addiction
According to a sworn statement from his father, Geoff Payne, his son would change dramatically when under the influence of drugs. "He was not in control with what he did. He was not Liam," Geoff Payne stated, expressing his grief and disbelief that his son would intentionally harm himself.
Hotel staff quickly became aware of Payne's increasingly erratic behavior. Messages from a hotel reception WhatsApp group reveal concerns about his intensity and volatility, with staff being advised to handle him cautiously to avoid aggression. He began ordering large quantities of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and repeatedly requested drugs from the front desk.
Two hotel employees, Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz, have been charged with supplying cocaine to Payne, though both have pleaded not guilty. Documents indicate Payne begged a prostitute to bring him "five grams" of cocaine to make crack. He also reportedly sent a graphic nude photo to a prostitute on the morning of his death and expressed fear to his best friend, Roger Nores, that he might have accidentally sent a nude photo to a minor.
Nores, who visited Payne on the day of his death, stated he was unaware of the full extent of Payne's addiction issues with drugs, alcohol, and sexting. He recounted Payne's fear of having sent an inappropriate image but noted Payne directed anger toward an ex-girlfriend rather than accepting responsibility.
Final Hours
By the morning of October 16, Payne had contacted sex workers. He messaged Aldana Serrano, offering $5,000 to spend the day with her and a friend, Lucila Goitea. When they arrived at his room, described as "carnage," they found drug paraphernalia, including burned Coca-Cola can lids, a blackened spoon, and packets of pills. 
A dispute arose when the women demanded their payment in cash, which Payne could not fully provide. He offered his gold Rolex as payment, but they refused, leading to an argument where Payne reportedly smashed the watch. CCTV footage shows Payne pacing and going in and out of his room for drugs. The women left around 3:30 p.m.
Payne's friend Roger Nores arrived at 4 p.m. and spoke with him briefly before leaving. Shortly after, at 5:07 p.m., hotel staff heard a loud noise. Payne's body was found in the hotel courtyard below his room, having fallen from the balcony.
New Theory on Death
Investigators are exploring a new theory about Payne's fall, suggested by a photograph of him swinging from a pole outside the hotel at 3:21 a.m. while waiting for drugs. Police consider this image significant as it demonstrates his upper body strength. The theory posits that Payne, impaired by drugs and alcohol, may have attempted to climb down from his balcony to the second-floor balcony below, but lost his grip. Fingerprint analysis of palm prints on the balcony glass supports the idea that he may have slipped while attempting to descend. This is consistent with his past behavior of climbing out of hotel windows to escape fans.
Toxicology reports confirmed high levels of cocaine and a blood alcohol content more than four times the legal limit, along with prescription sedatives and antidepressants. A letter from his U.S. psychiatrist had previously warned him against mixing alcohol with his medication. The investigation is ongoing, with plea deals being arranged for the two men charged with drug supply. A mystery remains regarding the whereabouts of the gold Rolex Payne allegedly smashed.
Geoff Payne stated that his son was an artist who liked to sketch and always carried pencils, which were found in a bag on his body, along with his passport, money, and a bottle of whisky. 
