Liam Payne, a former singer in the popular British boy band One Direction, died on Oct. 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires.
It is not clear whether Payne, 31, intentionally jumped or accidentally fell from the third floor, but early toxicology results said that he had cocaine in his system when he died.
Here is what we know about the circumstances of his death, which led to an outpouring of grief from fans, and the ensuing autopsy and investigation.
Payne had cocaine in his system, a toxicology report said.
A preliminary toxicology report from tests taken after an autopsy said that Payne had cocaine in his system when he died, according to an official with direct knowledge of the results. The final results are pending, with no confirmed date for their release.
A spokesman for the Buenos Aires police said the preliminary toxicology report was handed over to the local prosecutor’s office, which is investigating the death as a matter of protocol because of the circumstances.
Forensic experts determined from the autopsy, which was performed a few hours after Payne’s death, that he had died from falling off a balcony and that there were no signs of anyone else’s being involved.
The prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the autopsy report indicated Payne had died of “multiple trauma” and “internal and external bleeding” in the skull, chest, abdomen and limbs. Because of the position in which the body was discovered and the 25 injuries he sustained, officials presume that Payne did not try to protect himself from the fall and may have been in a state of unconsciousness.
A 911 call was made moments before his death.
The Buenos Aires police released a recording of a 911 call that was placed minutes before Payne’s death from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where he was staying.
A man who identified himself as the hotel desk manager said on the call that a guest who appeared to have excessively consumed drugs and alcohol was “breaking everything in the room.” The manager requested urgent assistance because the room had a balcony and hotel employees were “afraid he could do something that puts his life at risk.”
The spokesman for the Buenos Aires police said that the guest was Payne.
The prosecutor’s office said it appeared that Payne was alone when he fell. It said investigators found broken objects and furniture in his hotel room, as well as what appeared to be narcotics and alcohol.
No defensive wounds were found on the body.
The prosecutor’s office said that no defensive injuries had been found on Payne’s body. Five people were interviewed at the prosecutor’s office, the authorities said, including two women who had been with Payne the day of his death but had left the hotel before he fell. They also interviewed three hotel workers.
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