The world stopped for a second on October 16, 2024. News broke that Liam Payne, the former One Direction star who basically soundtracked an entire generation’s teenage years, had fallen from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. He was only 31.
Immediately, the internet exploded. People wanted to know who killed Liam Payne or if anyone was actually to blame for such a sudden, violent end. Was it a freak accident? Was he pushed? Did the people around him just let it happen? Honestly, the answers that have come out of the Argentinian investigation are a lot more complicated than a simple "whodunnit." It’s a story about a "perfect storm" of substance abuse, missed opportunities for help, and a legal battle that is still dragging through the courts in 2026.
The Toxic Reality of the Final Hours
To understand the "who" behind this tragedy, you have to look at what was happening inside Room 10. When police finally got inside, they described the place as being in "complete disarray." We aren’t just talking about a messy hotel room. There was a smashed TV screen, aluminum foil, white powder, and an improvised pipe for drug use.
Toxicology reports eventually confirmed everyone’s worst fears. Liam had a cocktail of substances in his system, including "pink cocaine" (a dangerous mix of ketamine, MDMA, and meth), crack cocaine, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.
The prosecution’s theory wasn't that someone physically threw him off that balcony. Instead, they argued that he was in a state of "semi or total unconsciousness." Because he didn’t even try to protect himself during the fall—there were no "defensive" marks on his hands—experts believe he didn't even know he was falling. He was in a drug-induced psychotic break.
Five People in the Crosshairs
So, if no one pushed him, why were five people charged? In Argentina, the legal system looks at "duty of care." Basically, if you see someone who can barely stand and is clearly losing their mind, and you leave them alone next to an open balcony, the law says you might be responsible for what happens next.
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The Businessman: Rogelio Nores
Rogelio Nores was Liam’s friend and had been with him during much of the trip. Prosecutors originally charged him with "abandonment of a person followed by death." The idea was that he knew Liam was in a bad way and left him anyway. However, in February 2025, an Argentinian court dropped those charges. Nores argued he wasn't even at the hotel when the fall happened, and the judge eventually agreed he didn't have a legal "duty" to be Liam's keeper.
The Hotel Staff
This is where it gets murky. Gilda Martin (the hotel manager) and Esteban Grassi (the receptionist) were also initially charged with criminal negligence. Why? Because they saw Liam acting erratically in the lobby—allegedly smashing his laptop and behaving wildly—and instead of calling an ambulance immediately, they helped him back to his room. A room with a balcony.
The prosecution argued they should have kept him in a safe area. But like Nores, the court dropped the charges against these two in early 2025. The judges ruled that "clumsy or reckless" behavior isn't the same as a crime.
The Suppliers: The Real Targets
While the negligence charges fell apart, the drug supply charges didn't. Two men are still facing the music:
- Ezequiel David Pereyra: A former hotel employee.
- Braian Paiz: A waiter Liam met at a restaurant.
These guys are accused of facilitating the drugs that led to Liam’s "breakdown." In Argentina, supplying narcotics that lead to a death carries a heavy sentence—anywhere from 4 to 15 years. As of 2026, they remain the primary focus of the criminal case.
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The Inquest Delay: Why We’re Still Waiting
You’d think a year or two would be enough to close the book, right? Not even close. In November 2025, the UK inquest into Liam’s death was officially pushed back to May 7, 2026.
Senior Coroner Crispin Butler is waiting for every single scrap of evidence from Argentina. We’re talking about 800 hours of CCTV footage, thousands of deleted messages from Liam’s phone, and formal translations of the autopsy. The family, especially Liam’s sisters Nicola and Ruth, have been vocal about the "unaccounted minutes" that still haunt them. They want to know exactly who was in that room in the moments before the 911 call was placed at 5:04 p.m.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that this was a "party gone wrong." If you look at the evidence, it was a medical emergency that was treated like a nuisance. The hotel manager’s 911 call is chilling; he tells the operator the guest is "destroying the room" and mentions the balcony with genuine fear in his voice.
But the "who" in who killed Liam Payne isn't a single person with a weapon. It’s a combination of:
- The Suppliers: Who brought high-potency "pink cocaine" to a man with a known history of addiction.
- The System: A hotel environment that prioritized "getting the guest to his room" over getting him to a hospital.
- The Isolation: Liam was alone in a foreign country, far from his usual support system, after his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, had already flown back to the States.
Moving Toward Justice in 2026
As we approach the May 2026 inquest, the focus has shifted from "who did it" to "how do we prevent it." The "Liam’s Law" movement, sparked by fans and industry insiders, is pushing for better mental health and addiction support for young artists who are thrust into the global spotlight.
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The Argentine court has made it clear: they are going after the dealers. Even if the hotel staff escaped manslaughter charges, the investigation into how those drugs entered a "high-end" hotel remains a massive scandal in Buenos Aires.
What to watch for next:
- The May 2026 Inquest: This will be the first time all the evidence—from both the UK and Argentina—is presented in one place.
- The Suppliers' Trial: Watch for the testimony of Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz. Their defense (or lack thereof) will reveal exactly how Liam obtained the substances that caused his fatal "outbreak."
- Repatriation Documents: New details from the final toxicology may be released, clarifying if any other third parties were present in the "unaccounted" minutes.
Liam’s death wasn't a mystery novel with a shock twist. It was a tragedy of neglect and exploitation. While the "who" might never sit behind bars for murder, the legal system is finally pinning down the "how."
Stay updated by following official court bulletins from the Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court and the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office in Argentina. Avoid tabloid speculation; the raw data in the 2026 inquest will be the final word on Liam Payne’s legacy.