Miller Gardner, the youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died on March 21 on the age of 14 whereas on trip along with his household in Costa Rica.
Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death, authorities in Costa Rica confirmed on April 2. High levels of the toxic gas had been detected in testing of the household’s resort room.
Here’s what we learn about Miller Gardner’s loss of life.
What occurred to Miller Gardner?
Miller Gardner’s mother and father stated in a press release that he died in his sleep after he and several other different members of the family fell sick whereas vacationing. They didn’t elaborate on who else had gotten sick, what particular sickness they had been coping with or what signs they’d skilled.
The place had been the Gardners staying?
The Gardners had been vacationing on the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, which is alongside Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, some 50 miles south of San José.
“We’re deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts exit to the household throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the resort stated in a press release on Tuesday, March 25. “The elements that led to this tragic incident are unknown, and we’re totally cooperating with authorities as they examine. We stay dedicated to supporting our visitors and workers, prioritizing their well-being and security, whereas respecting the privateness of these affected.”
The resort additionally informed CBS Information that resort workers responded to the incident based on protocol, saying: “The resort workers dispatched a medical staff instantly, together with a licensed physician, which arrived to deal with the emergency state of affairs. Any medical consideration to the household was accomplished by medical professionals. Our workers didn’t administer any medical therapy.”
What are officers saying about the reason for loss of life?
Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Company, or OIJ, stated on March 31 that investigators performed testing within the resort room the place Gardner was staying and located excessive ranges of carbon monoxide, which he stated might have been attributable to equipment within the room subsequent door. The contamination they discovered led investigators to consider Gardner “might have died from inhaling these extremely harmful gases,” Zúñiga said.
The reason for loss of life was confirmed after Gardner was examined for carboxyhemoglobin, a compound generated when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin within the blood, based on Zúñiga. The take a look at confirmed a carboxyhemoglobin saturation of 64%. Saturation is taken into account deadly when it exceeds 50%.
The top of Costa Rica’s judicial police additionally stated {that a} “layer” was detected throughout the post-mortem on Gardner’s organs. That layer kinds attributable to a excessive presence of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gasoline produced by the burning of fossil fuels in tools reminiscent of automobiles, furnaces, stoves, sure heaters and turbines. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning might embrace headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and confusion.
Zúñiga stated the investigation was “carefully coordinated” with the FBI.
The resort informed CBS Information in a press release on March 31 that it was “diligently cooperating with the Costa Rican judicial authorities, who’ve taken over the investigation.”
“We belief that the forensic course of will objectively, clearly, and conclusively make clear the causes of this unlucky incident,” the resort stated.
The OIJ director had stated it was conducting three sorts of analyses, together with a toxicology report, at its forensic science laboratories.
Why did early stories say the trigger was meals poisoning or “meals intoxication”?
Asphyxiation was initially regarded as the reason for loss of life, though that idea was dominated out after an post-mortem carried out by the Forensic Pathology Part. An preliminary assertion had stated: “Preliminary stories point out the reason for loss of life is asphyxiation following doable meals poisoning.”
Some information shops quoted a neighborhood official who cited doable “meals intoxication,” however there is no such thing as a situation by that identify, and it seems on this context to have meant the identical factor as meals poisoning.
Following the stories of doable meals poisoning, Resort La Mariposa, positioned lower than a mile from the place the Gardners had been staying, launched a press release to deal with what it known as “misinformation circulating on social media.”
“The Gardner household dined at our restaurant, Le Papillon, on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 18, 2025—three days earlier than Miller’s tragic passing. Any claims suggesting a hyperlink between our restaurant and this heartbreaking occasion are fully false and unfounded,” the restaurant stated. “Any information, statements, or claims on the contrary don’t replicate the truth of the state of affairs. Moreover, we shouldn’t have any further data, because the Gardner household didn’t keep at our resort.” The resort additionally prolonged its “heartfelt condolences to the Gardner household.”
The Arenas Del Mar resort, the place the Gardners had been staying, stated in a press release, “The household didn’t eat at any of Arenas Del Mar’s eating places for lunch or dinner yesterday. Moreover, on March 14th, we had an inspection by the Well being Ministry during which the resort handed with a 98.5 out of 100.”
What has the Gardner household stated?
In a press release earlier than the reason for loss of life was confirmed, Miller Gardner’s mother and father, Brett and Jessica Gardner, stated they’d “so many questions and so few solutions.”
“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we can not but comprehend our life with out his infectious smile,” they stated. “He liked soccer, baseball, golf, looking, fishing, his household and his mates. He lived life to the fullest each single day.”
“We’re so grateful to all who’ve reached out to supply assist and encouragement throughout this troublesome time and we’re assured our religion, household, and mates will assist us navigate this unimaginable loss,” their assertion continued. “Our prayers exit to Miller’s teammates and mates, in addition to to all different households who’ve misplaced a toddler far too quickly as we share their grief.”
An obituary posted on-line described Miller Gardner as an Honor Roll scholar who performed soccer and baseball and liked touring along with his household.
“The void Miller’s passing leaves within the hearts of his household, mates, teammates, academics, coaches and others will likely be felt for years,” it stated. “Miller’s time right here with them was transient however his spirit will keep on without end via those that had been impacted by the best way he lived.”
What have the New York Yankees stated?
The New York Yankees, the place Brett Gardner performed for 14 years, launched the next assertion after information of Miller Gardner’s loss of life turned public.
“Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees household is full of grief after studying of the passing of Miller Gardner. Phrases really feel insignificant and inadequate in attempting to explain such an unimaginable loss. It wasn’t simply Brett who actually grew up on this group for greater than 17 years — so did his spouse, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.
We grieve with Brett, Jessica, Hunter, and their neighborhood of household and mates in mourning the lack of Miller, who had a spark in his eyes, an outgoing and feisty persona, and a heat and loving nature.
Our love for the Gardner household is unconditional and absolute, and we’ll provide our enduring assist whereas understanding their want for privateness at the moment.
Could Miller relaxation in peace.”
Who’s Brett Gardner?
Brett Gardner is a former baseball participant who spent his complete skilled profession with the New York Yankees. Initially from North Carolina, he was initially drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and was first known as up in 2008 earlier than changing into a daily starter the next season. Throughout his 14 MLB seasons, the outfielder gained one World Sequence in 2009, earned an All-Star look in 2015 and a Gold Glove Award in 2016.
As a rookie, Gardner scored the ultimate run within the previous Yankee Stadium in 2008, which was changed the next yr.
His ultimate season was in 2021.
contributed to this report.
