Hotel Employee, Drug Dealer Charged in Liam Payne's Death

Three people have been charged in connection to Liam Payne’s death.

The suspects were charged after authorities concluded their investigation into the 31-year-old former One Direction singer, TMZ reports. Payne fell to his death last month from a third floor room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

A source told the outlet that one suspect, described as a “friend,” was reportedly charged with abandonment after leaving Payne alone in his room before his death. A hotel housekeeper was accused of delivering drugs hidden in a soap box to the singer, as only hotel staff had access to that soap supply.

The third suspect is the alleged drug supplier. That individual and the hotel staffer are facing charges for dealing.

Payne had flown to Buenos Aires in support of his former bandmate, Niall Horan, who performed in the city two weeks prior to the incident. Per TMZ, Payne and girlfriend, influencer Kate Cassidy, chose to extend their stay, and Cassidy eventually returned to the U.S. without Payne.

Reports suggest that Payne had been acting erratically before falling from his hotel balcony. An initial autopsy found multiple drugs, including cocaine and ketamine, in his system.

Payne had admitted to battling addiction and suicidal thoughts in 2021. Last August, the singer revealed he was over 100 days sober and working on new music. His final single, “Teardrops” was released in March and was co-written by NSYNC’s JC Chasez.

Paynce's father, Geoff, had traveled to Argentina to assist with the investigation. Three weeks after his death, Liam’s body was reportedly returned to the U.K. after being released to his family.

Payne is survived by his son Bear, 6, whose mother is former X Factor judge, 41-year-old singer Cheryl Cole.