Newly obtained police documents have revealed troubling details about Liam Payne’s final hours, including his reported fear that he may have accidentally sent a nude photograph to a minor. The former One Direction singer died on October 16, 2024, after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old. The documents, which have been released in stages since the investigation began, describe a chaotic final day marked by substance use, explicit messaging, and erratic behavior that ended in tragedy.

Key Facts From the Investigation Files

• Payne reportedly feared he sent a nude photo to a minor, but no evidence confirms a minor received it.
• Documents describe Payne as frequently sexting in his final days.
• He allegedly asked a sex worker to obtain five grams of cocaine so he could make crack.
• Two women arrived at his hotel around 11:30 a.m. and left shortly before 4 p.m.; Payne died 67 minutes later.
• Toxicology testing found alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his system.
• A photo showed Payne swinging around a street pole at around 3 a.m., which investigators considered when assessing his physical state.
• The autopsy documented 25 injuries consistent with a fall from a great height.
• The prosecutor’s office ruled out self-harm and physical intervention by another person.

Fear About a Nude Photo

According to the newly reported documents, Payne had exchanged explicit messages and images before his death. He allegedly sent a sex worker an explicit photograph on the morning of October 16. He later contacted his close friend Roger Nores because he was afraid the image may have mistakenly been sent to a minor. The available reporting does not establish that a minor actually received the photograph. It only describes Payne’s apparent fear that he may have made that mistake.

Prior reports had already alleged that Payne sent explicit photos to his ex-girlfriend Maya Henry and her family before his death. The newly released material reportedly characterizes Payne as being heavily engaged in sexting during his final days, adding to the increasingly detailed account of his actions before his death.

Alleged Request for Cocaine

The documents also contain allegations that Payne pleaded with a sex worker to bring him five grams of cocaine so he could make crack. Two women later identified as Aldana Serrano and Lucila Goitea arrived at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel at approximately 11:30 a.m. They reportedly remained with Payne for several hours and later provided sworn statements about his condition, substance use and the increasingly erratic behavior they allegedly witnessed. The women left shortly before 4 p.m. Payne died 67 minutes later after falling from the balcony connected to room 310.

Toxicology testing subsequently confirmed that alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant were present in his body. Investigators also examined the hotel room and gathered surveillance footage from the property as part of their reconstruction of his final movements.

Photo of Payne Swinging Around a Pole

Another newly surfaced image reportedly shows Payne swinging around a pole in the street at approximately 3 a.m. as he waited for drugs to be delivered. Investigators reportedly considered that photograph when examining what may have happened on the balcony later that day. The image appeared to show that Payne still possessed enough upper-body strength to pull himself around the pole. That reportedly contributed to the theory that, while intoxicated, he may have believed he could climb down safely from his third-floor room.

The photograph does not prove what Payne intended to do at the balcony. However, it became one piece of evidence considered alongside the physical scene, surveillance footage and items found near his body. An Argentine judge later concluded that Payne had attempted to leave the room through the balcony before falling.

Why Liam Payne Was in Argentina

Payne had traveled to Argentina while his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan was touring in the country. Before attending Horan’s concert, Payne explained through Snapchat that he hoped to reconnect with his former bandmate. “It’s been a while since me and Niall have spoken; we’ve got a lot to talk about,” he said. Payne insisted there was no hostility between them but suggested a conversation was overdue. “No bad vibes or anything like that, but we need to talk,” he added.

Payne attended Horan’s performance with his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, and posted videos showing them singing and dancing during the concert. He also documented other portions of the trip on Snapchat, sharing photographs of food, discussing plans to play polo and joking about his hair. Payne and Cassidy visited a friend’s home during their stay, but she left Argentina before his death.

Autopsy Findings and Investigation

An autopsy performed after Payne’s death determined that he suffered “multiple traumas” and “internal and external hemorrhaging.” Investigators documented 25 injuries that were “consistent with a fall from a great height.” The prosecutor’s office initially ruled out self-harm and physical intervention by another person.

Investigators also found that Payne did not adopt a defensive posture to protect himself during the fall. That detail initially led authorities to believe he was unconscious or semi-conscious. Prosecutors ruled out “a conscious or voluntary act,” concluding that Payne either did not know what he was doing or could not understand his actions. The official medical findings established that he died from injuries caused by the fall.

A Career Cut Short

Liam Payne first became famous as a teenager on a British reality singing competition. He was placed into One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson. The band became one of the best-selling acts in music history, releasing five albums and touring the world before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Following the hiatus, Payne launched a solo career. His debut single “Strip That Down” became a hit, and he later released an EP and collaborated with a range of artists. He also spoke openly about the pressures of fame, mental health, and addiction, making his death a subject of intense public grief and scrutiny.

Payne is survived by his son, Bear, whom he had with singer Cheryl Tweedy. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, fellow musicians, and former bandmates. Vigils were held in several cities, and his funeral took place in November 2024.

Ongoing Scrutiny

The release of the police documents has added another layer to the public understanding of Payne’s final hours. It shows a man who was messaging sex workers, asking for drugs, and growing increasingly agitated, even as he remained in contact with friends. The documents also describe the efforts of those close to him to check on his well-being during the day.

Hotel staff had reportedly grown concerned about Payne’s behavior before his death. Emergency services were called to the hotel, and the circumstances surrounding that call have been examined as part of the investigation. The police files, along with toxicology results, autopsy findings, and witness statements, have all been used to piece together what happened on October 16, 2024.

While the documents contain disturbing allegations about Payne’s final hours, they also leave important questions unresolved. There is no confirmation that a minor received a nude photo, and the precise reason Payne was on the balcony remains a matter of inference from the evidence. Authorities have said his death was caused by the fall, and their investigation into the surrounding circumstances has continued. The full record paints a complex portrait of a star who had long struggled with the weight of fame and whose final day was marked by confusion, fear, and turmoil.

Source: MSN News