Gary Liddle, 72

Retired artist and businessman Gary Liddle, 72, was found dead last week after neighbors reported the stench coming from his room in his home in San Jose.

According to Liddle’s neighbors at the former San Jose Motel, located behind San Jose Mart and Dolphin Store, Liddle’s body was found in his room last Wednesday but they believe he could have been dead at least 24 hours before his body was found because the stench could be smelled from outside his room.

Neighbors also claim that Liddle did not die of COVID-19, in reaction to a video circulating on social media of individuals in safety gear entering the residence. “We just want to clarify for the public that Mr. Liddle did not die of COVID-19. If he did, we would all be in quarantine right now. Those people in suits were hired by our landlord to clean out Mr. Liddle’s room because of the smell,” said a neighbor, who requested anonymity.

When asked about the matter, John Selleck, one of Liddle’s neighbors, said he wasn’t there when Liddle’s body was found, but he volunteered to help clean Liddle’s room. When asked to describe the scene, Selleck said Liddle had a lot of junk and paperwork in his room and he seemed to have a hoarding problem. However, something that stood out for him was that the room had many bodily fluids on the floor, including a lot of blood, where Liddle’s body was found.

“I can’t tell you if there was foul play involved. I can tell you that police said they are still doing an investigation,” he said.

Gary Liddle

Other neighbors also shared that prior to Liddle’s death, they noticed two individuals on separate occasions taking photos of Liddle outside the residence.

Selleck said police continue to investigate Liddle’s cause of death but have yet to inform them of what really happened.

The Department of Public Safety refused to comment on its investigation.

Selleck said he took it upon himself to contact Liddle’s family in the United States about what had happened since he has no family members here.

Selleck noted that Liddle always spoke about his passion to help the people of the CNMI, spending his years of retirement trying to bring in business opportunities for the CNMI, including Rota.

According to an article on the Marianas Visitors Authority webpage, for over two years, Liddle has been spearheading a Business Development Workshop for local artists, combining both his knowledge of business and his love for local art.

Liddle has lived on Saipan for over 10 years but began his business career 64 years ago in California at the age of 6, both in starting his first business and in working in his family’s business.