Liam Payne’s last hours shown in haunting never-before-seen photos before hotel tragedy

One Direction alum Liam Payne’s last hours were revealed in never-before-seen photos before his tragic death in October 2024.

The Daily Mail obtained 3,000 photos, documents, statements and reports from the Argentina police, including surveillance footage of him walking through the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires.

Another saw him swinging on a pole outside the hotel the night before he died.

Payne was also seen chatting with hotel staff, and later socializing with two women, whom police identified as prostitutes, in the lobby. Per the documents, he also texted one a photo the morning he passed away.

The “What Makes You Beautiful” crooner died after falling from the balcony of his third-story hotel room on Oct. 16, 2024. He was 31.

According to an autopsy, he fell while attempting to flee his room after consuming alcohol and drugs.

A toxicology report determined that Payne had consumed crack, cocaine and a depressant. He was also under the influence of pink cocaine, a drug with ketamine, MDMA and methamphetamine.

Months after Payne’s death, officers charged five people, including hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi and the singer’s friend Rogelio “Roger” Nores with manslaughter.

Additionally, Braian Paiz and Ezequiel Pereyra were also charged with supplying Payne with drugs.

However, in February 2025, charges were later dropped against Nores, who was accused of abandonment after allegedly failing to inform Payne’s family he had relapsed. Nores previously denied allegations that he “abandoned” his friend.

Charges against Martin and Grassi were also dropped. Paiz and Pereyra are still awaiting trial.

Payne was laid to rest on Nov. 20, 2024, following a funeral service at St. Mary’s Church in England.

Payne’s former One Direction bandmates, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, were in attendance.

The “Polaroid” singer rose to fame in 2010 when he was grouped with his bandmates on the competition series “X Factor.” The group released five albums before parting ways in 2016.

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).