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2 weeks ago
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There is a huge update on Liam Payne’s case! Nearly one month after he jumped from the fourth-story balcony of his room at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires while on multiple drugs, arrests have been made.
According to a press release from Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office and obtained by People on Thursday, three people were arrested and charged with abandonment of a person followed by death as well as the supply and facilitation of narcotics. Whoa. The names of the three individuals have yet to be revealed.
Related: AJ McLean Sent A Concerned Text To Liam Payne The Day Before His Death
Per the press release, following Liam’s death, “illicit conduct was discovered from which three people were charged with the crimes.” One of the suspects “is the person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay in the city of Buenos Aires.” Another is a hotel employee accused of supplying Liam with cocaine, while the third is an alleged “drug supplier.” The release noted that “self-harm of any kind and/or physical intervention by third parties were ruled out” as contributing factors to Liam’s death. As we know, he had several drugs in his system when he jumped from the balcony. But per the release, in the moment before and at least 72 hours before his death, Liam had “polydrug use of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body.”
No other details were reported from People at this time. However, La Nación reported the friend who spent time with him in Argentina before his death last month was an Argentine businessman who presented himself as Liam’s manager — but was not. The outlet claimed investigators tried to call him on cell phones provided by the hotel managers on the day of the One Direction alum’s death but he never picked up.
The next day, an attorney showed up to ask if the friend faced any charges. When authorities denied it, he ended up testifying as a witness. He claimed to have been at the hotel on the day Liam died. However, employees said they did not see him at any point. The businessman also allegedly failed to inform Liam’s family he was struggling with substance abuse again. Thus, a judge ultimately decided to charge him for breach of care. With the abandonment of a person charge, he possibly faces two to six years in prison.
Wow…
This massive development comes after police raided the CasaSur Palermo Hotel again. Per La Nación, investigators also raided eight homes in relation to the three suspects. Law enforcement did raid a ninth home belonging to one of the two women who were with Liam hours before his death. They reportedly seized nine cell phones, three computers, two hard drives, and a jaw of marijuana.
Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments!
If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse, help is available. Consider checking out the resources SAMHSA provides at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline or check out StartYourRecovery.org.
[Image via WENN/Avalon]
