Liam Payne’s Friend Roger Nores Denies Abandoning Singer Before Death

Liam Payne’s close friend Rogelio “Roger” Nores denied his involvement in the late singer’s death.

“I never abandoned Liam. I went to his hotel 3 times that day and left 40 minutes before this happened,” Nores told the Daily Mail in a Thursday, November 7, statement. “There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen.”

Payne was visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the weeks preceding his death. News broke on October 16 that the former One Direction singer suffered a fatal fall from a third-story hotel balcony at the age of 31. An autopsy revealed that Payne sustained multiple injuries involving internal and external hemorrhage and had various drugs in his system including “pink cocaine” and crack.

Local Buenos Aires police officers subsequently launched an investigation into the circumstances of Payne’s death.

Related: Everything to Know So Far About Liam Payne’s Shocking Death at 31

  One Direction alum Liam Payne died on October 16, 2024, at the age of 31. That evening, Us Weekly confirmed Payne had fallen to his death from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The singer had sustained a cranial fracture and other serious injuries that were too severe for treatment. Local emergency responders […]

“I’ve given my statement to the prosecutor on October 17 as a witness and I haven’t spoken to any police officer or prosecutor ever since,” Nores told the Daily Mail. “I wasn’t Liam’s manager; he was just my very dear friend … I’m really heartbroken with this tragedy, and I’ve been missing my friend every day.”

Earlier on Thursday, Argentina officials charged three individuals in connection to Payne’s death including a hotel employee and one of Payne’s travel companions. In a 180-page indictment, the suspects were charged with abandonment leading to death and the supply and facilitation of narcotics.

“Three supplementary medical-legal reports requested by Madrea confirmed that all injuries were consistent with a high fall, ruling out self-harm or third-party involvement. The lack of defensive posture upon impact suggests Payne may have fallen in a semi- or fully unconscious state,” a statement from prosecutors read. “In light of this, forensic psychiatry experts were consulted to determine whether Payne may have been in a diminished or unconscious state at the time of the fall, which the prosecutor believes negates the possibility of voluntary action on his part.”

Related: 3 People Charged in Connection to Liam Payne Death in 180-Page Indictment

Three people have now been charged after an investigation surrounding the death of Liam Payne. The prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday, November 7, that three individuals had been charged with abandonment leading to death and the supply and facilitation of narcotics. According to the statement, nine searches had been conducted and the accused had been […]

Following the conclusion of the investigation and additional toxicology tests, Payne’s remains were able to be sent back to his native U.K. The “Teardrops” musician’s father, Geoff, accompanied his son’s body on a flight to London that landed on Thursday morning.

Payne is survived by his parents, his two older sisters and his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey, whom he shared with ex Cheryl Cole. Details regarding a funeral service have not been publicly revealed.

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