Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of the teenage son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, authorities in Costa Rica said on Wednesday night.
Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency, said 14-year-old Miller Gardner was tested for carboxyhemoglobin, a compound generated when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood. When carboxyhemoglobin saturation exceeds 50%, it is considered lethal. In Gardner’s case, the test showed a saturation of 64%.
“It’s important to note that adjacent to this room is a dedicated machine room, where it’s believed there may be some type of contamination toward these rooms,” Zúñiga said. He added that, during the autopsy, a “layer” was detected on the boy’s organs, which forms when there is a high presence of the poisonous gas.
Gardner died on 21 March while staying with his family at a hotel on the Manuel Antonio beach on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
Asphyxiation was initially thought to have caused his death. After an autopsy that theory was ruled out. Another line of investigation centered on whether the family had suffered food poisoning. Family members had reported feeling ill after dining at a nearby restaurant the night before the teenager’s death and received treatment from the hotel doctor.
Brett Gardner, 41, was drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and spent his entire major league career with the organization until her retired in 2021. He was a popular figure with fans and teammates during his long career with the club.
“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile,” Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, said in a statement after their son’s death. “He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.”
The Yankees said the organization was “filled with grief”.
“Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss,” a statement from the team said. “It wasn’t just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years – so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.”