The death of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, is being investigated as a possible case of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Randall Zuniga, director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ), who spoke at a news conference on Monday.
An OIJ representative later confirmed to ESPN via text that investigators believe the death was accidental, not the result of foul play.
Zuniga also stated that the investigation has been closely coordinated with the FBI in the United States. He revealed that tests were conducted in the family’s room on Friday, a week after Miller Gardner’s body was found in his hotel room at a popular resort district. The tests showed high levels of carbon monoxide contamination, suggesting that the cause of death could be linked to “inhaling hazardous gases.” These are preliminary findings, with forensic toxicology results still pending.
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The room tested, according to Zuniga, was near a “machine room,” which investigators suspect may have been the source of the contamination. “Levels up to 600 parts per million were found, while the acceptable level in this case should be zero,” he noted.
Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, an OIJ spokesperson, said there was no immediate information available about other people in the room or how the carbon monoxide may have affected those in nearby rooms. Last week, the OIJ ruled out asphyxiation as a cause of death, noting that Miller Gardner’s airways were not blocked, though traces of vomit were found.
The discovery of carbon monoxide marks a new development in the investigation into the death of Brett Gardner’s youngest son. The family has said the circumstances surrounding Miller’s death raise many questions but provide few answers. Brett and his wife, Jessica, announced their son’s death on March 23 through a statement released by the Yankees, revealing that Miller had fallen ill, along with several other family members, while on vacation.
On March 21, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the U.S. Department of State confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Costa Rica but provided no further details on the cause. A State Department spokesperson expressed respect for the family’s privacy during this difficult time, offering no additional comment.
In a phone call with ESPN on Tuesday, Alvarado Garcia mentioned that family members who were with Miller reported that they had eaten at a restaurant and that the food made them sick. The exact location of the restaurant and which family members were present remain unclear. A study was requested at the Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA), and nearly a week later, the OIJ reported that the fire department and Ministry of Health had been notified about the contamination.
Miller Gardner, who played high school football in South Carolina and wore No. 11, the same number his father wore during his 14-season MLB career with the Yankees, tragically passed away at the age of 14. Brett Gardner, a beloved team leader, was part of the Yankees’ 2009 championship team and retired in 2021.
