’s friend has been charged after authorities conducted an investigation, according to Argentina newspaper Clarin.
After the investigation conducted by the Buenos Aires National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office, an as-yet-unidentified friend of Payne’s has been linked as a possible supplier. The friend was reportedly not at his residence.
Payne died on October 16 at age 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel. His partial autopsy reportedly showed that he had “pink cocaine” — which typically mixes methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA — cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack in his system at the time of his death.
News broke earlier this week that the alleged friend of Payne and two hotel employees were under investigation after authorities completed a series of raids. Argentinian outlet Infobae reported that a raid was conducted at the Buenos Aires hotel and also at the homes of two of the hotel’s employees and a “presumed friend” of Payne.
Per the outlet, the unnamed person was identified by messages on Payne’s phone but was not present during the raid. Authorities searched the former One Direction band member’s device to see if they could uncover who “provided the drugs,” according to the outlet.
Security camera footage allegedly shows one of the suspected hotel employees interacting with Payne. One of the two employees was reportedly fired.
The initial raid of the hotel was conducted on October 23. Sources close to the investigation told Us Weekly at the time that authorities were looking into staff members who had been working in the days prior to Payne’s death and on the day he died. Authorities were also searching for documents from the hotel’s registration books and computers, as well as security camera footage.
Local sources told Us on Tuesday, November 5, that the hotel was raided a second time. While noting that there is confidentiality of a judicial investigation, the insiders explained, “Operations carried out by the City Police [and] requested by the prosecutor [were] within the framework of the case that is under summary secrecy.”
In videos from local news outlet Farandula Show, law enforcement officers were spotted leaving the hotel wearing blue vests while carrying backpacks and shoulder bags. One carried a cardboard box as well as other items, which were taken to a police car outside the building.
Payne’s body was flown from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to London on Wednesday, November 6, a source told Us. After his remains arrive in his native England, his loved ones will pay tribute during a funeral service.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
