The official cause of death of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner’s son was determined to be exposed to carbon monoxide on Wednesday.
Gardner’s 14-year-old son Miller passed away on the morning of March 21st during a family trip at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort Costa Rica. The cause of his death was revealed on Wednesday, According to To the Associated Press (AP). Randall Zuniga, director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Research Department (OIJ), told the outlet that Miller’s carboxyhemoglobin levels were 64%.
Statement from Brett and Jessica Gardner:
Heartfelt, we are saddened to announce the death of our youngest child, Miller. He was 14 years old and left us shortly after getting sick with several other families on vacation. There are a lot… pic.twitter.com/lbcbvmkgue
– New York Yankees (@yankees) March 23, 2025
Zúñiga said a translated report from the AP also found a “layer” in the mirror’s organs during the autopsy, indicating the presence of toxic gases.
“It is important to note that adjacent to this room is a dedicated machine room and that these rooms are believed to have some type of contamination,” he said.
The hotel previously refuted the findings of the agency for “high levels of carbon monoxide pollution,” saying that the carbon monoxide levels in room “are not present and not lethal.”
The MLB team, on behalf of the Gardner family, announced the death of the boy in a statement regarding X.
New York, New York – October 3: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees faces the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on October 3, 2021 in New York City. The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0. (Photo: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
“A heartfelt, we are saddened to announce the death of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and left us shortly after getting sick with other families on vacation,” they wrote.
“There were so many questions at this point, and there are few answers, but I know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday March 21st,” the statement read.
Authorities ruled out choking as the cause of Miller’s death after being reported to have been reported to have been “first-time death after obviously ingesting food after potentially poisoning.” According to NBC News.
The news outlet previously reported that Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, an official at the Costa Rica judicial investigator, pointed out that “two to three months” was available “due to high autopsy results as it is being carried out in the country due to an increase in murders.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1TXLSNXU1U
Zúñiga shared a message on the agency’s YouTube account on March 31st. This said the “dangerous atmosphere” team conducted the tests in the room where his family was staying while the investigation was underway. (Related: Former Yankees star Brett Gardner announces the death of his 14-year-old son)
“At the time, high levels of carbon monoxide contamination were detected in that room, which leads to a series of investigations where this person may have died from inhaling these very dangerous gases,” he said.
