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Former One Direction singer Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024 while he was on holiday in Argentina with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. The artist died after a three-storey fall from his balcony, reportedly under the influence of narcotics. Since then, the Argentinian authorities have been investigating the reasons for the tragedy.
On November 7, his body was handed over to his family for repatriation to the UK. On the same day, the investigators announced that three people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the tragedy.
Three people arrested in investigation over Liam Payne's death
Indeed, the Argentinian police has been carrying out a thorough search of the hotel where Liam Payne died. Investigators seized hard drives, CCTV footage, and other items that could be crucial to the case. Following this in-depth investigation, Argentinian prosecutors released a statement confirming that three people have been charged on different counts.
According to them, two people, one of whom was a hotel employee, have been charged with supplying narcotics to the singer. The prosecutor also explained a 'friend' of the singer had been arrested too—they have not been named. The person has been charged with 'crimes of abandonment'. The statement reads:
The first of the accused is the person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires, who is charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death
Speculation of who the friend is
Since the news of these arrests broke, it has been heavily speculated that the 'friend' in question may be Rogelio Nores, an Argentinian businessman. As per Daily Mail, Nores had been with the star in the days prior to his death.
The police have not officially confirmed nor denied his involvement in the investigation, but Nores has already slammed the accusations. He said:
I never abandoned Liam, I went to his hotel 3 times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened.
Moreover, he clarified that he is not a suspect in the case saying that since he gave his statement to the police on October 17, he has not 'spoken to any police office or prosecutor.'
He also goes on the say that he was not Liam's manager, but his 'dear friend'.
I'm really heart-broken with this tragedy, and I've been missing my friend every day.
Liam Payne's body returned to the UK
The news comes just as Liam Payne's body has finally returned to his homeland in Wolverhampton, accompanied by his father, Geoff Payne. The singer's dad had flown to Argentina just two days after the devastating news, on October 18, 2024, in the hope that he would be able to bring his son's body home soon. However, considering the nature of Liam Payne's passing, the investigation took longer than expected.
Geoff Payne remained in Argentina for over twenty days, away from his heartbroken wife, Karen, and daughters, Ruth and Nicola, as well as his grandson, Bear.
Liam Payne leaves behind millions of devastated fans, who have issued a joint statement saying they would not communicate on his funeral, in the hope that his loved-ones can mourn in peace.
Latest update: Police are still investigating
Meanwhile, on 12 November, it was revealed that the police returned to the hotel as one of Liam's possessions went missing. Indeed, his Rolex watch, worth a whopping £30,000, has disappeared.
According to Daily Mail, the singer was wearing the watch in CCTV images, a few hours before his fall, however it was not on him when his body was found. The authorities are now searching his room, as the watch has not been found in the homes of the three suspects that were charged. The homes of two female escorts, who he reportedly spent his last hours with, were also searched but to no avail.
The tabloid quotes a judicial source, who told Argentinian media La Nacion:
We know from images that have been analysed that Liam had the watch on the day of his death.
He had it in one of his hands and he had it at least two to three hours before his fatal hotel fall. We looked for it in his hotel room and couldn't find it.
This article has been updated to include the latest information in the ongoing investigation into his death.
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Sources used:
X
Daily Mail: Liam Payne: Police in Argentina arrest three people in connection with One Direction star's death
Mirror: Full statement from Argentinian prosecutors
Daily Mail: Liam Payne's 'heartbroken' close friend issues bombshell statement as police in Argentina arrest three over star's death
