US tourist up for eviction found dead in hotel room

A 55-year-old American visitor was found dead hanging by the neck in his room in a hotel in barangay Camputhaw in Cebu City early morning yesterday.

Police said Garrett Patrick Motley had no external injuries. The room exhibited no obvious signs of disturbance.

SPO4 Rey Cuyos of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office theorized that financial issues may have driven the American to commit suicide.

Investigators discovered that the management of Richmond Plaza Hotel were trying to evict him for his failure to pay his bills that had run up to P13,466.

Motley, who was from New York, USA, checked in at the hotel in August last year.

The American was given until last Tuesday to settle his bills, but he asked for a one day extension.
After failing to pay up yesterday, the hotel sought help from the police.

A tourist police team led by PO2 Noel Gerodias went to Motley’s room, but there was no response when they knocked on his door.

Gerodias said this prompted them to forcibly open the door and found the American hanging from the ceiling with a cord tied around his neck.

A copy of the eviction notice sent to the victim by the hotel management were among the items found in the room.

The victim’s body was taken to the Cebu Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels in Mandaue City where it will undergo an autopsy.