Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old Yankee player Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, died of carbon monoxide poisoning last month while on vacation with his family, Costa Rican authorities said Thursday.
After his death, reports of post-mortem toxicology discovered carboxyhemoglobin, an indicator of carbon monoxide in the blood, according to a statement from Randall Zuniga, director of the Costa Rica Judicial Investigation. Miller Gardner’s tests showed saturation at 64%, adding that over 50% are fatal.
Zuniga said other tests, including drug testing, were also conducted, but they were all negative. He added that the autopsy report could detect signs of carbon monoxide poisoning on the organ and could be considered a case to be closed.
Miller and his family were staying at a resort in Costa Rica. The family said in a statement released last month through the Yankees that Miller died on March 21, “after he was ill with several other families during the holidays.”
“He passed away peacefully while he was asleep,” the family said.
Authorities said the family is staying in Manuel Antonio, a resort area on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast.
Authorities said at a press conference Wednesday that the resort’s family rooms were next to the ones with machinery, which could have led to contamination.
Arena del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, the resort where the family stayed, did not respond to requests for comment after toxicology results.
The family said Miller “loved soccer, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends.”
Brett Gardner, 41, played for the Yankees throughout his major league career from 2008 to 2021.
He played left and center field and was part of the 2009 Yankee World Series Championship team. By 2019, he was the team’s final Yankee and won the title.
The speedy left-handed hit player led the league on a stolen base in 2011 and led the Triples in 2013. His only All-Star season appeared in 2015.
He scored his final run in 2008 at the old Yankee Stadium.
Mr. Gardner and his wife, Jessica, live in South Carolina. They have another 16 year old son, Hunter.
Jonathan Wolf contributed to the report.
