Liam Payne’s death investigation has reportedly sparked raids on the homes of two hotel employees and a “friend” of the tragic singer.
The 31-year-old former One Direction star fell to his death on October 16 from the balcony of his room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Multiple drugs were reportedly found in Payne’s system, and how he sourced the illicit substances is forming part of the ongoing investigation in the death.
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Police are now reportedly ramping up their probe into star’s passing.
Law enforcement sources have told TMZ raids on two hotel workers were carried out on Tuesday night, with the outlet also claiming lockers of the staffers at the hotel where Liam died were also searched.
Police are said to believe the employees had been in contact with the singer before he plunged to his death.
According to TMZ, a “friend” of Payne’s was identified by police who looked at messages on his phone.
Police raided the CasaSur in October and seized electronic and paper records.
A post-mortem examination found Payne was killed by head injuries suffered during his fall.
But it remains unclear how the fall occurred. Local journalist Paula Varela reported on Socios del Espectaculo that CCTV footage shows Payne suffered a medical incident, fainting next to the balcony edge.
He had travelled to Argentina for his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan’s solo concert.
Payne’s influencer girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25, had been with him on the trip — but left to go back to her home in America 48 hours before he was found dead.
Investigations into the cause of death
A cleaner and another staff member were previously accused of smuggling drugs, believed to have been hidden in a Dove soap box, into Payne’s room, the Daily Mail reported.
“Liam was doing everything to stay clean, but as soon as he got to the hotel these people were offering him alcohol and drugs,” a close friend told the outlet.
Taxis were allegedly sent from the hotel to pick up drugs and, after Payne’s death, one taxi was reportedly sent to the house of the hotel cleaner, who was fired when he was unable to explain to the hotel manager why the taxi had arrived at his house, it reported.
White powder, burnt foil and cans, over-the-counter medications, energy packs and the anxiety drug Clonazepam were all located in the room, and forensic analysis is ongoing.
Local police told TMZ they believed Payne had taken a hallucinogenic substance known as “cristal” which has been linked to psychosis, and extreme ups and downs, but the substance was not located in the room, and toxicology reports have not yet been finalised.