Liam Payne’s father fully cooperating with authorities while singer’s body remains in Buenos Aires
Liam Payne’s dad has been cooperating with police as they investigate his only son’s death on Oct. 16.
The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office No. 14 said in a press release Tuesday that Geoff Payne “expressed his desire for an investigation and knowledge of what happened and expressed to the prosecutor his willingness to testify about everything he knows about his son’s life, which can help the investigation.”
The musician’s dad arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his son fell to his death from a third-story balcony at CasaSur Palermo Hotel, on Oct. 18.
Photos and videos from his arrival at the hotel show the patriarch observing the fan memorial outside and standing on the balcony from where Liam fell.
Geoff first arrived to identify his son’s body and take him back home to their native England. However, per the release, “the toxicological and histopathological studies complementary to the autopsy have not yet been completed, and their results are necessary to release the body.”
It’s also unclear when the full autopsy will be completed and when his body could be on its way back to the UK. In the meantime, Geoff will remain in Argentina and “be provided with dynamic police support until the judicial proceedings are completed,” per the release.
However, a family friend told the Daily Mail, “Geoff has been told it might take ten days for the tests to be completed and for him to take Liam home.
“He is finding the whole situation really tough. Geoff is totally heartbroken at losing his son.
“But he has vowed to do right by Liam and will not go home without him. It is the uncertainty of not knowing when this ordeal will be over is what he is finding very difficult to deal with.”
As for a possible timeline of when the results might be ready, the family friend said, “The Argentine officials say they expect the results to take ten days, but it might be a lot less time than that.”
Amid their investigation, authorities are looking into Liam’s phone and computer, as well as photographs and footage from security cameras.
They also said in their press release that “numerous statements were also taken to reconstruct the victim’s final hours and the scene of the events, a process that is still ongoing with hotel workers, acquaintances, technical and medical professionals, and other people linked to the victim through their work.”
This latest development comes just days after a partial autopsy revealed the former One Direction singer had multiple drugs in his system at the time of his death, such as cocaine, crack and benzodiazepine, which is a type of depressant.
The test also found “pink cocaine,” a recreational drug that typically mixes methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and others, per the outlet.
It had been previously reported that authorities believed the “For You” singer had been high on “cristal,” a substance that “causes users to experience extreme highs and extreme lows, often making them aggressive.”
At the time of his death, multiple eyewitnesses recalled seeing the singer acting erratically in the lobby of the hotel.
A preliminary autopsy report also showed that the dad of one suffered a cranial fracture and multiple traumas when he fell that led to internal and external bleeding.
During the initial investigation, Page Six confirmed that alcohol and controlled substances were found in his trashed hotel room.
In fact, the singer, who had previously been open about his addictions and mental health struggles, had made those around him fear his life would end due to drugs.
A source told Page Six Tuesday, “This is the ending everyone prayed would not happen, but worried would come to pass.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
