**Liam Payne Laid to Rest in Private Funeral as Investigation Continues**

The private funeral of former One Direction member Liam Payne was held in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, attended by close family and friends. Joining the somber event were his bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan. Notable figures such as The X Factor's Simon Cowell, TV presenter James Corden, and Payne's partner at the time of his death, Kate Cassidy, were also present to pay their respects.

An autopsy revealed that Payne succumbed to internal and external bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries resulting from his fall. His body had been flown back to the U.K. earlier in the month after local authorities retained it for toxicology and laboratory tests to ascertain the cause of death.

Upon announcing Payne's passing, his family expressed their deep sorrow in a brief statement: "We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul." His former One Direction bandmates also shared their grief in a collective message, stating they were "completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing." They added, "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever."

The investigation into Payne's death is ongoing, with Argentine police having detained three individuals in connection to his fall. The toxicology report indicated that in the days prior to his passing, Payne had alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system.

One Direction, formed in 2010 on The X Factor, released five studio albums before taking an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Payne released his solo album LP1 in 2019 and was reportedly working on a second album prior to his death. Payne is survived by his parents, two sisters, and his son Bear, born in 2017 with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.