Liam Payne was seen interacting with a hotel employee accused of delivering him drugs shortly before his death, as revealed in newly surfaced surveillance footage.
TMZ exclusively obtained the video showing Liam stepping out of an elevator in the basement of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires and briefly speaking with a hotel staff member. This employee, identified by hotel sources as Ezequiel David Pereyra, a bellboy, is one of three individuals charged in connection with Liam’s death. Police allege that Pereyra delivered drugs to Liam hidden inside a soap box. While authorities have not officially confirmed the person in the footage is Pereyra, they are in possession of the video.
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In the clip, recorded around 2:04 PM — roughly three hours before Liam’s fatal fall from his third-floor hotel suite balcony — the singer can be seen exchanging a handshake and a brief conversation with Pereyra, who is stacking chairs with other staff members. Pereyra then exits through a doorway.
The interaction appears friendly, suggesting Liam may have been acquainted with Pereyra prior to the incident, possibly during his stay in Buenos Aires.
Prosecutors have ruled out suicide in Liam’s death, instead attributing his fall to the effects of the drugs he consumed. According to authorities, Liam had cocaine, crack, ketamine, ecstasy, and a form of crystal meth in his system at the time of his death.
Three individuals face charges in the case: Pereyra, a friend accused of abandoning Liam, and an alleged drug dealer who has publicly denied supplying drugs to the late singer or receiving any payment from him. Investigators claim Liam’s drugs were delivered in a Dove soap box, with police noting that only hotel staff had access to the hotel's soap supply.
Law enforcement and prosecutors have reviewed over 800 hours of hotel surveillance footage as part of their investigation, using the recordings to identify individuals potentially involved in supplying drugs to Liam.
