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New information released by Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office has revealed disturbing details about Liam Payne's condition at the time of his death. The former One Direction singer had alcohol concentrations of 2.7 grams per liter in his blood when he fell from his hotel balcony last October.
This blood alcohol concentration (BAC) equates to 0.27%, a level known to cause severe disorientation, confusion, and feeling dazed, according to Alcohol.com. Medical experts note that BAC levels of 0.3% can lead to alcohol poisoning, while 0.4% is potentially fatal.
The prosecutor's report confirmed Payne also had "cocaine metabolites, methylecgonine, benzoylecgomine, cocaethylene and the medication sertraline" in his system. These findings align with the November toxicology report that detected "alcohol, cocaine and prescription antidepressants" in his body in the 72 hours before his death.
Security camera footage revealed concerning behavior before the tragedy. On October 14, Payne was seen going to hotel reception to request money. Text messages between Payne and Braian Paiz, now charged with supplying drugs, showed Payne writing, "I have 100 US dollars" in response to Paiz's message about someone with "cigars."
Payne died on October 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires after falling from the third floor of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. He was 31. A preliminary autopsy determined his death resulted from multiple injuries and "internal and external" hemorrhages. His official cause of death was later confirmed as "polytrauma."
Three individuals were initially arrested in connection with his death. However, on February 21, charges against his friend Roger Nores and two hotel employees, Gilda Martin and Esteban Grassi, were dropped following a court hearing.
Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz, accused of selling Payne drugs, remain in prison awaiting trial. If convicted, they face between four and fourteen years behind bars. The prosecution confirmed evidence of "onerous" drug deliveries, despite Paiz's previous claims that the drugs were given for free.
Payne's ex-girlfriend Maya Henry released a statement after his death, saying, "It was the drug use and addictions that tore us apart." This tragedy highlights the devastating impact of substance abuse, even among those with fame and resources.
