The official determination for the death of Brett Gardner’s son, a former player for the New York Yankees, was announced on Wednesday to be due to carbon monoxide exposure.
Miller, Gardner’s 14-year-old son, passed away on the morning of March 21 while vacationing with family at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Costa Rica. This cause of death was disclosed on Wednesday by The Associated Press (AP). According to Randall Zúñiga, the director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ), Miller’s carboxyhemoglobin level was 64%—a saturation level exceeding 50% is deemed fatal.
Statement from Brett and Jessica Gardner:
With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to share that our youngest son, Miller, has passed away. He was just 14 years old and left us far too soon after becoming ill along with other family members during our vacation. We have so many… pic.twitter.com/lBCBVmKGUe
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 23, 2025
Zúñiga indicated that an “overlay” was discovered on Miller’s organs in the autopsy, suggesting the presence of the toxic gas, as reported by The AP.
“It is significant to mention that next to this room is a dedicated machinery room, where contamination of some sort may be present toward these rooms,” he stated.
The hotel previously denied the agencies’ claims of “high levels of carbon monoxide contamination,” asserting that the carbon monoxide levels in the room were “non-existent and non-lethal.”
The MLB team made the announcement regarding the boy’s death in a statement on X, representing the Gardner family.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 03: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees in action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on October 03, 2021 in New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
“With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to report the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us too soon after falling unwell along with several other family members during our vacation,” they stated.
“We have so many uncertainties and so few answers at this moment, but we know he peacefully passed away in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st,” the statement continued.
Authorities dismissed asphyxiation as the cause of Miller’s death after it was initially suggested that he died “following possible intoxication from food,” as reported by NBC News.
The news outlet had earlier indicated that Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, an official with Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, mentioned it would take “two to three months” for autopsy results to be ready, “due to the high demand for autopsies being conducted in the country because of the rise in homicides.”
Zúñiga shared an update on March 31 on the agency’s YouTube channel, stating that while the investigation continues, a “hazardous atmosphere” team conducted assessments in the room where the family was staying. (RELATED: Former Yankees Star Brett Gardner Announces Death Of 14-Year-Old Son)
“At that time, elevated levels of carbon monoxide contamination were found in that room. This consequently leads us to an investigation line suggesting this individual may have died from inhaling these highly dangerous gases,” he explained.
