Liam Payne case: Argentine police arrest two hotel workers and alleged friend

The death of former One Direction member Liam Payne continues to leave fans in shock while causing legal repercussions for the people involved. Three Argentine citizens have now been charged with crimes in connection to his demise.

Argentine authorities long investigated the death of Payne, 31, who fell from the balcony of his room in a Buenos Aires hotel on October 16. The singer was believed to be intoxicated and highly confused at the time.

NBC News cited the prosecutor's statement when three individuals were held accountable for the incident. During the investigation, "illicit conduct was discovered from which three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics," the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor of the case, Andrés Madrea, first indicated that a person who was with Payne during the entirety of his stay had abandoned the singer after he died. This person is charged with abandoning a person following death, the statement of the prosecutor read.

The authorities also arrested one hotel employee for supplying Payne with coca1ne on two occasions while he stayed at the hotel, NBC News reports. A third person is accused of supplying illegal substances to the star twice on October 14.

Both individuals were charged with two acts of supplying narcotics, the Argentinian spokesperson said.

It is uncertain whether this is the end of the Liam Payne death investigation, as more questions remain. For example, as the Daily Mail reports, his 30,000BP Rolex appears to be missing from his room.

Argentine police conducted raids at the homes of two workers at the CasaSur Palermo hotel where Payne was staying. They suspected that these employees had contact with him before the tragic incident and reviewed all available information about the alleged supply of illegal substances.

According to sources on TMZ, investigators examined the hotel's lockers and security footage for clues that could shed light on the case. Analysis of these records helped clarify what happened in the hours before the singer fell.

In addition to the hotel employees, police followed the trail of a supposed 'friend' of Liam Payne, identified through messages on the singer's phone. This contact could be key to the investigation, as it is suspected that he sold him drugs in the days before his death.

Initially, investigators were unable to locate Payne's friend. During the raids, they did not find him at his home.

TMZ reported that the initial autopsy revealed Payne had "pink coca1ne" in his system, a dangerous mix of methamphetamine, ecstasy, and ketamine. However, later reports have not referred to the pink substance anymore, even though they did mention the combination of other dangerous narcotics.

Traces of white powder were also found on a table inside the singer's room, along with burnt aluminum foil and other items associated with drug use.

Meanwhile, Liam Payne's body was handed over to his family on Wednesday, November 6, allowing him to be repatriated to the UK, the BBC reported. Argentine prosecutors confirmed that all necessary toxicological and forensic tests had been completed before he was released.

The autopsy confirmed that Payne suffered severe internal and external injuries from the fall. Argentine authorities are evaluating all the elements to determine if there are additional responsibilities in this tragic accident.

Payne rose to worldwide fame with One Direction and went on to pursue a solo career. After his death, his family expressed their sadness in a statement: "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."

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