Newly released police photographs of Liam Payne's final hours have sparked a fresh theory about his death, with a source suggesting he may have been attempting to climb out of his hotel room rather than intentionally falling.
The One Direction star, 31, died in October 2024 after falling 46 feet from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had been in the country for 16 days awaiting a US visa renewal.
Key evidence in new police files
A blurred image from the police files shows Payne wearing a green top and grey jeans, swinging around a pole outside the hotel at 3:21 am on the day of his death. A source close to the investigation described the picture as "highly significant" because it demonstrates his upper body strength, suggesting he may have been confident in his ability to support his weight while climbing, before losing his grip.
Other photographs reveal a shattered television set, ripped bed sheets, what appear to be blood smears on the bathroom sink, and drug-related items including charred Coca-Cola can lids, a blackened spoon, and half-burnt candles. Authorities believe Payne converted powdered cocaine into a liquid "crack" form, which he either snorted or injected.
Final hours and witness accounts
Payne had checked out of the Park Hyatt hotel after allegedly vandalising his room and arguing with staff, then moved to the CasaSur Palermo. He repeatedly phoned the front desk requesting drugs and ordered numerous bottles of Johnnie Walker Black label whisky via room service.
Hotel manager Gilda Martin wrote in a WhatsApp message: "This person is going to be very intense throughout his stay. It's important that we tell him 'no', always kindly and with excuses. This is to stop him from continuing to be aggressive. Or at least not so much."
Two escorts who visited Payne said they had consensual sex with him, and when they asked for payment, he offered his Rolex, which he later smashed when they declined. One recounted: "We told him we only wanted money so he took it and smashed it. He told us he didn't care about the money. And then he broke the TV, he punched it. He made us understand that he could smash everything because he knew he could pay for it."
Investigation and legal outcomes
Payne's father, Geoff, told prosecutors his son "disappeared" when struggling, stating: "He was not in control with what he did. He was not Liam."
Initially, five individuals faced charges, including drug supply and negligence. By 2026, all charges were dropped against three suspects, including businessman Rogelio "Roger" Nores, who was acquitted of manslaughter and drug-supply accusations. Two remaining defendants, accused of selling cocaine to Payne, are in plea discussions that could lead to reduced sentences.
The exact circumstances of Payne's death remain unclear, but the new images have reignited speculation. His son, Bear, was left fatherless in a tragedy that devastated family, friends, and millions of fans worldwide.
