Funeral arrangements are underway in Payne’s home country of England, and I can confirm that his father, Geoff Payne, will soon receive the former One Direction singer’s body. This news comes as Argentine authorities have reportedly conducted a new round of raids related to their ongoing investigation into Payne’s death.
Death Investigation Continues
Reports from multiple outlets indicate that preparations are underway to transfer Payne’s body back to the U.K., signifying the completion of the necessary toxicological and laboratory reports related to his death. Investigators believe the 29-year-old singer was under the influence of drugs before he fell to his death from a third-story hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16th.
Geoff Payne arrived in Buenos Aires shortly after his son’s death and has been cooperating with investigators, according to the prosecutor’s office. Sources have told ABC News that the prosecutor’s office has now granted the release of Liam’s body to his father. The Daily Mail reports a memorial service will take place in the U.K. after the singer’s repatriation.
As for the status of the death investigation, TMZ claims police have raided the homes of two employees of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where Liam was staying when he died. Authorities have also reportedly raided the home of a local acquaintance of Payne’s after reviewing text messages between the two. Investigators are attempting to ascertain how the singer acquired the drugs discovered in his system before his fatal fall.
Police Uncovered Potential Evidence
Police previously raided the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in October and purportedly obtained electronic evidence. ABC News reports investigators honed in on a hotel employee after CCTV footage allegedly showed multiple exchanges between that person and a drug dealer before Liam’s death. Video footage reportedly showed the singer sleeping twice in the hotel lobby, holding a bottle of whiskey.
Payne had been open about his struggle with alcohol addiction and said in 2023 that he was six months sober. ABC’s police sources claim investigators do not believe the singer’s hotel fall was intentional.
Initial toxicology results showed Liam had “multiple substances” in his system, including traces of “pink cocaine,” a cocktail of several recreational drugs that can include MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, and caffeine in various amounts, per the National Capital Poison Center. ABC News also discovered cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack in his system. ABC News has yet to release a full autopsy report.
Funeral Preparations Are Underway
RadarOnline.com reveals in a separate report that a “list of stars” has agreed to sing at Liam Payne’s upcoming funeral. A source told the outlet: “Liam’s funeral is going to be packed with A-listers, as he was so well loved in the showbiz community, and so many of them are so sad about his tragic death.”
According to the source, Payne’s family desires a “low-key and respectful” farewell, reflecting Liam’s earthly nature. However, the insider noted there will be “a series of song tributes from some very big acts, as he loved singing and making music until the end.”
Liam’s body arrived at a British cemetery near Buenos Aires two days after the incident, while investigations into his death were ongoing. Now, his body is expected to be flown back to the U.K. later this week once all necessary paperwork is completed.
Liam suffered twenty-five injuries in the fatal fall, according to an autopsy. The authorities informed Payne’s father that they could repatriate his son’s body in a few days, but the investigation took an additional two weeks.
As the investigation continues and final preparations are made, the music world and Liam Payne’s legions of fans await news of how they can pay their respects to the beloved singer taken far too soon.
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