New information has come to light regarding the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, who passed away after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2024.
According to a statement released on Friday, February 21, by Argentina’s National Crime and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14, Payne had a blood alcohol concentration of up to 2.7 grams per liter at the time of his death. His system also contained cocaine metabolites, methylecgonine, benzoylecgomine, cocaethylene, and sertraline, an antidepressant.
The Impact of Alcohol and Drugs
According to Alcohol.org, a BAC level between 0.20% and 0.29% can cause severe confusion, disorientation, and impaired pain perception. At this stage, a person may not realize they are injured if they fall, and they are at higher risk of choking due to a weakened gag reflex. Blackouts are also common, leading to memory loss about events before the incident.
A preliminary autopsy report, previously obtained by Us Weekly in October 2024, confirmed that Payne died from multiple internal and external injuries, including severe hemorrhaging. Reports suggest he may have been in a semi-conscious or unconscious state at the time of the fall.
Drug-Related Arrests and Charges
Two men, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Nahuel Paiz, remain in custody on manslaughter charges for allegedly supplying drugs to Payne before his death.
Paiz had previously denied selling drugs to Payne, but the prosecutor’s office confirmed in their statement that he has been formally charged for providing drugs in exchange for money.
Pereyra, an employee at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel—where Payne was staying—was also arrested in January 2025 in connection to the case. It remains unclear whether he has entered a plea.
Meanwhile, Payne’s friend Roger Nores and two other CasaSur employees initially faced manslaughter charges, but those charges were dropped earlier this month.
Remembering Liam Payne
Liam Payne’s passing at just 31 years old shocked fans around the world. As investigations continue, many are still mourning the loss of the beloved singer, who rose to fame with One Direction and later pursued a solo career.