Liam Payne had cocaine, alcohol and antidepressants in his system at the time of his death, a toxicology report has showed.
The former One Direction member died on October 16 at the age of 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Argentinian prosecutor’s office has since shared that his cause of death was due to multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
In October, it was reported that preliminary toxicology tests revealed the musician had pink cocaine and several other substances in his system at the time of his fatal balcony fall.
Now, following yesterday’s (November 7) press release made by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14, it has been revealed that Payne’s toxicology results are in and have been communicated to his family.
The press release – translated from Spanish via People – stated that in the 72-hour period prior to his death, Payne had traces of “alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants” in his body.
“This conclusion was reached after the complete toxicology tests on urine, blood and vitreous humour,” it continued. Elsewhere in the press release it was revealed that three people have been arrested and charged in Argentina in connection with Payne’s death.
On October 25, a raid was conducted at the hotel where Payne died, and according to local news site La Nacion, police were searching for further evidence, particularly in the form of documentation, film records and video that could help piece together the final hours of the late singer’s life.
The Guardian has additionally reported that officers had seized computer hard drives and the hotel’s security camera footage. Interviews were also conducted with hotel staff as well as several members of the authorities, including technical and medical professionals who have worked on the case. Geoff Payne, Liam’s father, also arrived in Buenos Aires to aid in investigations.
Authorities have been investigating his death ever since and now, ABC World News have reported that two arrests have been made. Both of those arrested are hotel workers, according to Rolling Stone.
Meanwhile, plans to release Payne’s first posthumous single were pulled only two days after they were announced.
Grammy award-winning producer Sam Pounds, who worked with Payne shortly before his death, shared that he would be releasing a new song by the late singer on November 1. The song, titled ‘Do No Wrong’, was set to be released in three forms: the original, an a cappella version and a live mix.
The announcement was divisive, and subsequently met with backlash from many who felt it was too soon after Payne’s death to share it.