Hotel employee who allegedly gave drugs to Liam Payne surrenders to the police

The judicial investigation over Liam Payne's death, when he reportedly fell from the third floor into the inner courtyard of the Palermo Hotel on October 16, 2024, has gotten a significant update. Ezequiel David Pereyra, the 21-year-old hotel worker accused of supplying the late British singer with drugs, has turned himself in to the Argentinian police.

La Nacion reported that Pereyra's surrendered to the police early on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, citing sources who have access to his case file. Per the publication, Pereyra allegedly negotiated his surrender through his attorney after the Argentinian police were unable to find him. La Nacion quoted:

"After the raid, surveillance was carried out at a place where he [Pereyra] was supposedly working and at other addresses, and under pressure he went to see his lawyer and turned to the court."

His arrest, which Buenos Aires Times reported happened on Monday, January 6, comes after he was labeled a "fugitive" as the Argentinian police were unable to locate him after an arrest warrant was allegedly given on January 3. Pereyra becomes the second suspect in relation to Liam Payne's tragic passing who is now in police custody.

City Police personnel previously arrested Argentinian waiter Braian Paiz, a former waiter at a restaurant in Puerto Madero, on January 3, 2025, at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, per The Mirror US. His lawyer, Fernando Madeo, also confirmed his arrest but previously said that he didn't think that the charges against his client would stick.

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More on the investigation of Liam Payne's death

Ezequeil David Pereyra and Braian Paiz are only two of the five accused in relation to Liam Payne's fatal fall last year. As per BBC, the case has three other suspects: Rogelio Nores, a representative who allegedly accompanied Payne in Buenos Aires to get his US visa again, CasaSur hotel manager Gilda Martin, and hotel receptionist Esteban Reynaldo Grassi.

However, only hotel worker Pereyra and waiter Paiz have been issued preventative detention. Judge Laura Bruniard have charged them with selling drugs to Payne before his death and on December 27, per La Nacion, she ordered preventative detention for both of them.

Judge Bruniard summoned Pereyra and Paiz to turn themselves in and appear in court within 24 business hours after being notified, but after they didn't, the judge ordered their arrest.

Also during the December 27 proceedings, Judge Bruniard allowed charges against all five accused to proceed, per ABC News. On December 31, 2024, both Pereyra and Paiz were charged with "supply of narcotics." They could face between four to 15 years of prison if found guilty.

According to the prosecutor's office, Nores, Martin, and Grassi won't serve jail time ahead of their trial but they are required to pay around $48,000 (50 million pesos) as provisions. Nores, who was also a friend of Liam Payne, has since denied his involvement in the singer's death. He told MailOnline that he "never abandoned Liam." However, December 27, 2024's ruling accused him of failing to "comply with his duties of care, assistance, and aid."

As per ABC News, Judge Bruniard admitted that she didn't think that Martin and Grassi acted maliciously in Liam Payne's death. However, the Judge said that "they were imprudent in allowing him to be taken to the room."

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This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more news and updates on the ongoing Liam Payne's death case.