Prosecutors investigating the death of Liam Payne reportedly believe an employee at CasaSur Palermo Hotel, where the singer had been staying as a guest, procured drugs for him before his fatal fall.
“There appears to be evidence that a hotel employee sourced the drugs for Payne,” a source, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of his position, told People Friday.
“An indictment for drugs distribution could follow shortly.”
Page Six has reached out to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina but did not immediately hear back. A rep for CasaSur Palermo could not be immediately reached as well.
A statement from the prosecutor’s office previously obtained by Page Six stated that investigators are looking into Payne’s incident as a “suspicious death.”
However, all their findings at this point indicate that the former One Direction member was alone when he died and foul play is not suspected. Authorities also stated that “no defensive injuries were found.”
Sources told People, though, that prosecutors are keeping all of their options open, and are particularly interested in learning who were the individuals that gave Payne the drugs found in his hotel room.
In the “Night Changes” singer’s suite at CasaSur Palermo, officials found clonazepam — which is used to control epilepsy, involuntary muscle spasms or panic disorders — whiskey and trash scattered around.
Buenos Aires Police also told TMZ Friday that Payne had been under the influence of a potent drug called “cristal,” which can cause hallucinations and psychotic attacks.
The dangerous substance can also cause “users to experience extreme highs and extreme lows, often making them aggressive,” officers added to the outlet.
Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
Start your day with Page Six Daily.
Thanks for signing up!
The manager at CasaSur Palermo placed a harrowing 911 call minutes before Payne died, stating he had a male guest who was “high and drunk” and had been “destroying” his room when he was conscious.
“He is in a room that has a balcony and we are scared he might be endangering his life,” the staffer said.
When the dispatcher asked the manager if he wanted police on site, however, the worker curiously opted out of that and instead asked only for SAME, Argentina’s service for medical emergencies, to come.
The prosecutor’s office previously said in a statement to Page Six that investigators interviewed three hotel workers and two women who were in the “Story of My Life” singer’s room hours prior to his death.
The women are believed to be two 25-year-old escorts who reportedly partied and drank alcohol with Payne inside his hotel room on Wednesday.
Per local news outlet La Nación, however, the sex workers claimed under oath that they did not consume any drugs with the pop star. They also alleged he seemed “normal” when they were together.
Prosecutors said, though, Payne was likely in a “state of semi or total unconsciousness” when he died.
His cause of death was determined to be from multiple traumas, internal and external bleeding due to his fatal fall. A toxicology report is still pending and his death investigation is ongoing.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
