Rogelio “Roger” Nores, a close friend of Liam Payne and one of the last people to see the former One Direction star alive, believes the singer’s death resulted from a tragic series of unfortunate events.

In October, Payne fell from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to local police. He was 31 years old.

Following his death, five individuals were charged in connection with the incident. However, in January, prosecutors dropped charges against Nores and two others, while a hotel employee and a local waiter remained in custody for allegedly supplying Payne with cocaine.

Speaking to en Español’s Cecilia Dominguez, Nores shared that he left Payne about an hour before the fall, stating, “He was doing okay; he was being Liam.” He never anticipated that tragedy would strike, saying, “It was very hard to see it coming.”

Nores and Payne had traveled to Buenos Aires for what was meant to be a personal trip, including attending Niall Horan’s concert. According to Nores, Payne was enjoying life, and there were no signs of distress. “He was happy. It’s not like he was sad or depressed,” he said, calling the incident an “extremely unfortunate” accident.

During their trip, Nores, Payne, and Payne’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, engaged in normal activities like bowling and watching movies. Nores stated that Payne remained sober throughout their time together. However, Cassidy left Buenos Aires a few days before Payne’s fall.

Shortly before his death, Payne was given drugs, and toxicology reports revealed that he had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system. Despite this, Nores insisted, “I don’t think the drugs killed him. I think this was just a tragic accident.”

Having met Payne in 2020, Nores described him as one of his closest friends. As he grieves, he is focused on remembering Payne’s kindness and spirit.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities launched an investigation into Payne’s death in October. Court documents reviewed en Español confirmed that Nores, along with the hotel’s manager and head of reception, were cleared of negligent homicide charges.

Meanwhile, the detained hotel employee and local waiter could face up to 15 years in prison. The waiter’s attorney has denied his client’s involvement and intends to appeal.

Payne had openly discussed his struggles with substance abuse and mental health. In 2023, he celebrated six months of sobriety after completing treatment in the U.S. He had planned a South American tour but postponed it due to a kidney infection.

Reflecting on Payne’s journey, Nores stated, “He was surrounded by a supportive and healthy environment. His family and friends tried their best. They tried really hard to help, but ultimately, it was Liam’s decision.”

Before his passing, Payne had completed filming for Netflix’s upcoming singing competition Building the Band, where he served as a judge alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland. The show is still expected to be released.

Payne’s death sent shockwaves through the music industry and devastated millions of fans worldwide. Rising to global fame with One Direction, he became a household name after the band’s formation on The X Factor UK in 2010. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne was laid to rest in England, with his former bandmates—Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson—attending the funeral.