Liam Payne's deadly fall from a third-floor balcony was not classified as a suicide.
On Friday, November 8, TMZ reported that Liam's death was caused by the side effects of the drugs he took, as affirmed by law enforcement representatives.
At the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Liam passed away at the age of 31 due to a fall from his balcony on October 16. According to a press release issued by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 14 on Thursday, November 7, he died immediately as a result of "multiple traumas" and "a hemorrhage, internal and external."
Liam's official toxicology report, as stated in the release, indicated that "in a period of 72 hours [he] only had traces in his body of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant."
Furthermore, officials determined that "all of the injuries that Payne presented were compatible with those caused by a fall from a height, and that self-harm of any kind was ruled out," as well as the "physical intervention of third parties."
The autopsy suggests that the musician may have entered a state of semi or total unconsciousness as a result of his failure to adopt a reflex posture to defend himself during the fall.
“This situation would also rule out the possibility of a conscious or voluntary act on the part of the victim, since, in the state he was going through, he did not know what he was doing nor could he understand it,” officials added.
On the day of his death, witnesses reported to TMZ that the "What Makes You Beautiful" singer was behaving in an "erratic" manner in the hotel lobby. They also claimed he "smashed his laptop and had to be carried back to his room."
A hotel employee immediately contacted 911 to express concern regarding a guest, who was not identified as Liam, as they were concerned that they might fall from their hotel balcony.
The employee stated that the passenger had “overindulged on drugs and alcohol,” adding, “When he is conscious he breaks, he is breaking the whole room. Well, we need you to send someone, please.”
By the time authorities arrived at the site, Liam had passed away. The Buenos Aires police reported that Liam sustained "extremely serious injuries" as a result of his fall from the third-floor balcony. Medics verified his death on the spot. “There was no possibility of resuscitating him,” the authorities reported.
On October 21, sources informed ABC News that Liam had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death, as revealed by a partial autopsy and toxicology.
According to sources, this included "pink cocaine," a recreational substance that is typically a combination of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA, as well as cocaine, benzodiazepine, and crack. It was also reported that an aluminum pipe was discovered in Liam's hotel room, as per The Daily Mail.
Liam was observed with two unidentified women before his death; however, they were not present at the time of his fatal fall. The women were interviewed and designated as "key witnesses," but they are not suspected.
Three arrests have been made in connection with the case in the weeks following the investigation into Liam's death. “Police detained two hotel workers accused of supplying the drugs,” according to ABC World News Tonight on Wednesday, November 6. “And raided the home of a friend, also detained.”
