Cops investigating Liam Payne’s tragic death to hunt drug dealer after pics allegedly show ‘white powder’ in star’s room
COPS investigating Liam Payne’s tragic death are reportedly set to hunt for a drug dealer.
Argentine media have published pictures allegedly showing inside Liam’s Buenos Aires hotel room shortly after his fatal balcony fall.
The pictures appeared to show white powder and burnt aluminium foil.
The 31-year-old singer was in Buenos Aires for his ex-bandmate Niall Horan’s tour when he died after falling from the third floor on Wednesday afternoon.
Hotel staff reported him acting “erratically” before his death and told cops in a panicked 911 call that he “could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti said initial findings point towards him fracturing his skull.
Cops are now planning to test the items allegedly found in his room.
Several images show the inside of the former One Direction singer’s luxury suite at the upmarket Hotel CasaSur Palermo, according to local media.
It comes as:
- Heartbreaking 911 call from hotel staff revealed
- One Direction fans held candlelit vigils outside the hotel
- The singer posted on Snapchat just minutes before his death
- Rylan Clark and Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to the singer
- His ex-fiancée Maya Henry broke her silence after his death
- Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy’s message before he died
- Harry Styles’ mum pays heartbreaking tribute to the star
- Inside the hotel where Liam tragically died
The images appear to show traces of a white powder and burnt aluminium foil both in the bathroom and living area.
News outlets such as La Nacion and Clarin claim the photos were taken after Liam was found dead.
Argentina’s biggest newspaper Clarin published the images alongside the claim: “Damage and drugs in the hotel room Liam Payne was staying in in Buenos Aires.”
Cops will now test the alleged items to see if they are illegal substances, and look into who may have supplied them.
The singer had been open about his battles with drugs in the past.
In 2019, Liam revealed he suffered suicidal thoughts as he struggled with his fame.
A smashed TV can also be seen in the room next to a half-drunk champagne glass.
A final 911 call from hotel staff revealed they had asked for “urgent assistance” from cops to help with a guest “behaving erratically”.
Argentinian police said they were called to the hotel on Wednesday after staff reported an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
Witnesses at the hotel reported Liam even had to be carried back to his room, according to TMZ.
The head of reception made two calls, telling a 911 operator in the first: “We have a guest who is destroying everything in his room. We need someone to come.”
He phoned back after the line went dead, repeating his request: “We need you to send someone urgently because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger.
“They must be in a room that has a balcony. And well, we’re a little bit worried he’ll do something, that he’ll put his life at risk.”
At around 5pm local time (9pm UK time) on Wednesday cops found Liam dead in the hotel’s inner courtyard.
The spokesperson for the local ambulance service said Liam’s death had been confirmed on the spot after he had fallen and suffered severe injuries.
Tributes to Liam Payne
SHOCKED fans have started to flood Liam Payne's last Instagram post with sad tributes as news of the singer's death emerges.
Broadcaster Rylan Clark said RIP Liam: “Extremely sad news. V tragic and so young.”
Charlie Puth, who was friends with Liam and also collaborated with him on a song called Bedroom Floor, has posted a series of Instagram stories dedicated to him.
Alongside photos of the two of them together in their younger days, Charlie wrote: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.
“He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone…
“I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace. I am so sorry…”
German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.
The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…”
Irish singer duo Jedward also took to social media, saying: “RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family.”
In another tweet, they added: “Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne.”
American media personality Paris Hilton shared: “So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”
A red tent was put up over the body as cops began the investigation into the tragic death.
Forensic police could be seen working with ambulance staff at the scene before they moved his body to the morgue.
Police will now carry out an autopsy with a post-mortem expected later today.
The singer was in Buenos Aires for a holiday after going to see pal Niall Horan’s tour.
He had arrived on September 30 with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
Liam had shared a post on Snapchat only minutes before his death showing himself with girlfriend Kate Cassidy looking into a mirror.
Tributes have poured in for the singer with celebrities and fans alike sharing their heartbreak.
Harry Styles’ mum shared a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram writing in the caption: “Just a boy…”.
And Liam’s ex-fiancée Maya Henry was ” in shock” in the wake of the tragic news.
Weeping fans crowded outside the hotel holding a candle light vigil overnight in honour of the beloved singer.
Many mourned the loss of Liam with flowers as they wiped away tears.
Liam had posted earlier in the day talking about riding horses, playing polo, and looking forward to returning home to see his dog.
He has left behind his seven-year-old son Bear who he shared with Cheryl after the pair met when Liam was on the X Factor.
The Wolverhampton-born was born August 29, 1993, and had early health battles and was bullied at secondary school.
He first shot to fame aged just 14 when he appeared on the popular singer competition in 2008.
Liam returned to sing in front of Simon Cowell in 2010 before he was grouped up with four other talented young singers and went on to form the iconic One Direction band.
Inside Liam Payne and Cheryl's romance
IT was a romance that caused a media storm.
One Direction hunk Liam Payne was in a relationship ship X Factor judge Cheryl.
The pair – who have a ten-year age gap – got together while Cheryl was going through her divorce to second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini at the beginning of 2016.
Despite their age difference they looked completely infatuated with each other when the couple made their red carpet debut at Cannes in May 2016.
Liam even paid a sweet tribute to his girlfriend by getting a tattoo of her eye on his arm.
In 2017, Liam and Cheryl welcomed their baby.
Cheryl posted a picture on Instagram of Liam cradling their 7lb 9oz baby.
She captioned the sweet snap with: “On Wednesday Liam and I became parents to an incredibly beautiful, healthy baby boy looking like a dream.”
One pal told The Sun: “Cheryl gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday, and both are doing well.
“Liam didn’t leave Cheryl’s side throughout the birth, and like her, he is besotted with their new son and can’t wait to take him home.
“This is the perfect Mother’s Day for Cheryl.”
The Sun revealed in May 2017, that the couple named their son Bear.
They decided on the unusual name after spending a week getting to know him.
Bear adopted his One Direction star dad’s surname, so he is called Bear Payne.
A source revealed: “Cheryl and Liam wanted to get to know [their son] before they decided on the name.
“They didn’t have the name Bear before the birth.
“But they’d been thinking of a name since meeting him and they just felt it suited him.”
In February 2018, The Sun broke the story that Liam’s constant travelling to promote his solo career had placed a huge strain on the relationship, and they were ready to split.
That same month, Cheryl declared that “none of it matters” as she shrugged off questions about her crumbling romance with Liam during a BBC Breakfast interview.
They then put on a united front together at the Brit Awards, where they smiled on the red carpet and Cheryl joked about the couple’s ‘safe word’.
However, by July 2018, Cheryl and Liam made the decision to split.
A pal told The Sun: “Cheryl and Liam worked really hard on their relationship – they had troubles earlier this year and were able to get through them.
“But they’re in different stages of their lives and, after a lot of careful thought, came to a decision that it’s best for everyone if they do go their separate ways.”
Liam and Cheryl then released a statement confirming their break-up.
They posted a message on social media that read: “We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make.
“We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”