An investigation into the tragic death of former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son has uncovered a possible cause of death.
Gardner’s son Miller died in his sleep on March 21 while the Gardner family was vacationing in Costa Rica. Gardner and his wife Jessica said in an initial statement that they had “so many questions and so few answers” after Miller and several other family members became ill.
Randall Zuniga, the director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ), held a press conference on Monday to discuss some of the initial findings from their investigation into Miller’s death. Zuniga said “high emissions of carbon monoxide contamination were detected” in the hotel room where the Gardner family was staying at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort.
The tests were conducted a week after Miller’s death.
“Levels of up to 600 parts per million were found, when the correct level should be zero in this specific case,” Zuniga said, via ESPN’s Geuorgui Milkov and Anthony Olivieri.
While the results of a toxicology test have not been returned, Zuniga said Miller may have died from “inhaling hazardous gases.” The specific hotel room that the Gardners were in was adjacent to “a machine room,” which may have been the source of the carbon monoxide contamination.
The OIJ initially said Miller appeared to die from asphyxiation as a result of food poisoning. That has since been ruled out, as the 14-year-old’s air passages were not obstructed at the time of his death.
Zuniga said the investigation into Miller’s death has been “closely coordinated with the FBI in the United States.”
Hunter was the younger of two sons that Brett and Jessica Gardner share together.
Gardner spent all 14 years of his MLB career with the Yankees. He was named an All-Star in 2015 and won a Gold Glove Award in 2016. Gardner was the starting center fielder for the last Yankees team to win a World Series in 2009.
A fan-favorite during his tenure in the Bronx, Gardner batted .256 for his career with 139 home runs and 578 RBI. He stole 274 bases and led the American League with 49 steals in 2011.
Gardner retired after the 2021 season.
