The Argentinian hotel where Liam Payne died was visited once again by authorities who also took a look at hotel employees’ houses and a ‘friend’ of the star
Liam Payne’s untimely death is still under investigation.
After the pop star suffered a fatal fall out of a hotel room window in Argentina, the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires experienced its second raid by police. Liam died on Oct. 16 with the exact circumstances surrounding his death still being pieced together. The star reportedly was spotted in the hotel lobby ahead of his death displaying erratic behavior and even smashing his laptop in anger.
The One Direction star was later carried off to his room where a 9-1-1 call indicates that he allegedly was destroying property. There was a large mixture of drugs in his system, according to reported autopsy results, but the exact potential connection between the drugs and his fall is still under speculation and scrutiny.
According to TMZ, investigators found a “friend” in Liam’s text messages who might be connected to giving him the drugs. The friend’s home was reportedly raided alongside two hotel employees’ houses on Tuesday. The outlet reported that the two employees’ lockers were also searched..
An Argentina source told Us Weekly that a prosecutor is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of the investigation. They added: “Operations carried out by the City Police [and] requested by the prosecutor Andrés Madrea [were] within the framework of the case that is under summary secrecy.”
Police are still investigating the circumstances around his death
Video footage was captured by the Farandula Show depicting three law enforcement officers heading out of the hotel in blue vests and backpacks. It appeared that one official carried a cardboard box with a few items within. They stored the items into a police car’s trunk.
The first raid of the investigation took place on Oct. 23 with the intent to identify staff members who were present during Liam’s stay and during his death. Officers requested hotel documents such as registration books and security camera footage.
Argentinian journalist Paula Verela previously reported that some footage seemed to show Liam faint before his fall, something that would need to be verified in additional footage. This would align with theories from the preliminary autopsy which claimed he “may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness” due to the lack of a reflexive posture to protect himself or brace his fall.
In addition to researching the potential moments leading up to his death, the connection to drugs is also under investigation. Authorities are tasked with looking into who may have provided Liam with the drugs, especially “pink cocaine” which was found in his system.
“They are looking to investigate who sold the drugs to Payne and how those substances reached the room,” and insider told Us Weekly. “it cannot be ruled out that the substances were provided by someone from the hotel.”
