What else has the investigation included?
As the prosecutor’s office noted in its Nov. 7 release, “exhaustive and meticulous actions and measures were taken to clarify the circumstances” around Payne’s death.
These include, the release continued, “several dozen testimonies” from hotel employees, family, friends, medical professionals, biochemists and psychiatrists. What’s more, the release added, a “detailed analysis of more than 800 hours of video footage from various security cameras in the hotel and others on public roads” was conducted.
But that’s not all. “The forensic extraction of the contents of the deceased musician’s cell phone was also carried out,” the release said. “From this, his calls, messages, chats on messaging applications and social networks were analyzed.”
In addition, the release said “several gigabytes of data extracted from other cell phones were obtained and examined, such as that of the hotel reception and those of witnesses who voluntarily offered them to corroborate their statements.”
Other information examined, the release added, included “a record of the guests and orders at the hotel bar/restaurant” to see who visited Payne as well as what they ate and drank.
Plus, the prosecutor’s office said “nine raids were requested at homes” in Buenos Aires.
However, the Nov. 7 release noted “the investigation must continue, since, among other procedures, the unlocking of the victim’s personal netbook – which is broken – and other devices seized in the investigation are still in progress.”
Liam Payne, Kate Cassidy, Instagram
Instagram/Kate Cassidy
What had Liam Payne shared prior to his death?
Payne had been vacationing in Argentina with girlfriend Kate Cassidy and had documented their trip prior to his death.
Photos and videos shared to the “Strip That Down” artist’s Snapchat account showed the couple spending quality time together, eating breakfast, talking about his plans to ride horses and having what he described as a “lovely day” in Argentina days before his fatal fall, per screenshots obtained by NBC News. The final photo shared to Payne’s Snapchat account on the day of his death was a photo of him and Cassidy in their swimsuits.
Payne and Cassidy had noted on social media that she was heading back to Florida to be with their dog Nala while he was staying in Argentina.
“I was so ready to leave,” Cassidy said in an Oct. 14 TikTok video that showed her traveling back to the U.S. “Honestly, love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long. And we were supposed to be there for, like, five days, turned into two weeks, and I was just like, ‘I need to go home.'”
After Payne’s death, Cassidy expressed how she was at a “complete loss” and how “nothing about the past few days have felt real.”
“Liam, my angel,” she wrote in part of an Oct. 18 Instagram post. “You are everything. I want you do know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, One Direction
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
What has One Direction said about Liam Payne’s death?
After Payne’s death, his One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan expressed their heartache.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the group wrote on Instagram in a joint message Oct. 17. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
One Direction was formed on The X Factor in 2010, and achieved huge success before the band members parted ways in 2015.
“The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever,” Styles, Malik, Tomlinson and Horan continued. “For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
In addition to the group statement, the four singers released individual tributes.
“The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime,” Horan, who hosted a concert in Buenos Aires on Oct. 2 that Payne had attended, wrote in part of an Oct. 18 Instagram post. “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”
Malik also announced on Oct. 19 that he’s postponing the U.S. leg of his tour “given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week.”
Several stars, family members and friends have also honored Payne (read their tributes here).
Liam Payne
Mike Marsland/WireImage
Has Liam Payne been laid to rest?
Payne’s body was released to his family and flown back to the U.K., the public prosecutor confirmed to the BBC Nov. 6.
A funeral service was held Nov. 20, and his One Direction bandmates were in attendance.
(E!, NBC News and Telemundo are all part of the NBCUniversal family).
