3 people charged in death of One Direction singer Liam Payne, Argentine authorities say

Prosecutors have charged one suspect with abandonment of a person followed by death and two others with supplying narcotics.

Three people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne, who fatally fell from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires last month.

Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office announced the news Thursday and requested the arrest of the suspects, whom they did not identify by name.

One of the suspects, described as "the person who accompanied the artist on a daily basis during his stay" in Buenos Aires, has been charged with abandonment of a person followed by death. The charge can carry a prison sentence of five to 15 years.

Related: Zayn Malik postpones tour after moving tribute to Liam Payne: 'I will cherish all the memories'

The other two suspects were each charged with two counts of supplying narcotics, as the investigation into Payne's death determined that he received at least four supplies of drugs during his time in the city. One of the two suspects was a hotel employee, while the other is simply described as a "drug supplier."

Authorities said in a news release that investigators found evidence of "illicit conduct" and reviewed several dozen testimonies from hotel staff members, psychiatrists, and doctors, as well as Payne's friends and family. They also examined hundreds of hours of security camera footage and material from cell phones, and conducted nine raids on homes connected to the case.

According to the news release, an autopsy indicated that Payne, 31, had alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system at the time of death, and that "multiple trauma" and "internal and external hemorrhage" were the ultimate causes of death.

Related: Liam Payne died of 'multiple traumas' and hemorrhages, initial autopsy reveals

Investigators concluded that Payne's death resulted exclusively from injuries he sustained in the fall, as they found no evidence of self-harm or physical harm from third parties. The news release also said Payne seemingly did not take any preventive postures as he fell, suggesting that he was in a state of partial or total unconsciousness.

Payne's untimely death has prompted an outpouring of grief, including from his One Direction bandmates.

"Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing," Louis Tomlinson wrote in an emotional tribute. "I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band. Speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life.”

Harry Styles shared similar sentiments. "I am truly devastated by Liam's passing. His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it," he wrote. "The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend."

Related: Revisit the late Liam Payne's original X Factor auditions and first One Direction performance

Niall Horan, whose concert Payne traveled to Argentina to attend, expressed his gratitude that he spent time with his former bandmate shortly before his death. "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," he wrote. "Liam had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure."

And Zayn Malik, who departed One Direction after completing their fourth album together, postponed his first-ever solo world tour in the wake of Payne's death. "I lost a brother when you left us and can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly," Malik wrote on Instagram. "I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated."