Previously unpublished photographs provide a closer look at the final hours of life Liam Payne at the Buenos Aires hotel where he died. New photos reportedly show the former One Direction member drinking, moving around the CasaSur Palermo hotel, and interacting with two women before his fatal fall on October 16, 2024. Payne was 31 years old when he fell from the balcony of his third-floor room.
New photos show Liam Payne moving around the hotel.
The photographs are among more than 3,000 documents and images obtained by the Daily Mail during the police investigation.
One recently released photograph reportedly shows Payne swinging from a pole inside the hotel the night before his death. The materials also include photographs of Payne's damaged room, including a broken television screen. The images allegedly show hotel staff delivering alcohol and Payne moving around the hotel grounds as his condition worsened.
New photographs show Liam Payne meeting two key witnesses.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Other images allegedly show employees delivering alcohol to Payne's room, as well as Payne meeting two prostitutes in the lobby. The women, identified in witness statements as Aldana Serrano and Lucila Goitea, reportedly arrived at the CasaSur Palermo hotel at approximately 11:30 a.m. after Payne contacted Serrano through an escort website. The hotel requested identification before allowing them into room 310, allowing investigators to quickly locate and question them after Payne's death.
Serrano recalls that communicating with Payne was difficult due to the language barrier. "He was alone in his room. He greeted us warmly, and I asked him for money. We tried to communicate, but it was difficult because he only spoke English and I only spoke Spanish," she said.
Witnesses claim that the singer asked the singer for cocaine.
The women reportedly told investigators that Payne sang for them and shared music he was working on. Their testimony also included allegations of his drug use. They claimed Payne asked for help obtaining cocaine and discussed manufacturing crack.
According to the women, Payne ordered champagne for them and two bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label whiskey for himself. Goitea claimed to have seen him holding an unidentified substance along with pieces of foil.
She also described the hotel room as being in terrible condition: clothes and suspected drug paraphernalia were strewn throughout the room. "It was a complete mess. There was tin foil with traces of drugs everywhere. A drawer was full of tin foil, there was still burning tin foil on the couch… a lot of clothes were scattered… he smelled of alcohol," she said.
Her testimony appears to be consistent with recently released photographs of Payne's room, which show a smashed television screen, scattered papers and overturned furniture.
Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of drugs and alcohol.
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
A toxicology report later confirmed that Payne had consumed alcohol, cocaine, and prescription medications before his death. Clonazepam, a drug sold under the brand name Klonopin, was also found among the items in his room.
An initial autopsy revealed that Payne died from injuries sustained in a fall. Investigators found no evidence of a physical altercation and determined he was alone at the time of the incident. The Associated Press reported that prosecutors believe he may have fallen while "completely or completely unconscious.".
Hotel staff carried Liam Payne back to his room.
Previously obtained security footage reportedly shows three hotel employees carrying Payne from the lobby to room 310 shortly before his death. Although he appeared unconscious, Payne was reportedly conscious and kept his head upright during the transfer. Just minutes earlier, he had been standing in the lobby.
When officers arrived at the room, Payne allegedly resisted, refusing to enter. However, the staff used a master key to gain entry and left it in the room. According to the police report, they also removed a mirror from the hallway, apparently fearing it might be damaged.
A hotel employee contacted emergency services and expressed concern that Payne could be injured because the room had a balcony. "I don't know if his life is in danger. He's in a room with a balcony, and frankly, we're a little worried," the employee said during the call. Payne collapsed shortly afterward.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is experiencing a mental health issue, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention Hotline. For confidential referrals to substance abuse treatment, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Liam Payne's final hours are revealed in previously unpublished hotel photos. First published on The Blast.