Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of the teenage son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, authorities in Costa Rica confirmed Wednesday night.
Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency, said they tested the 14-year-old Miller Gardner 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%.
The head of the Costa Rican judicial police added that, during the autopsy, a “layer” was detected on the young man’s organs, which forms when there is a high presence of the poisonous gas.
Authorities in Costa Rica had first suggested earlier this week that carbon monoxide poisoning may be to blame for the boy’s death in March.
Officials also said the Gardners were staying in a hotel room next to “a machine room” that is now believed to be the source of contamination. According to Zúñiga, investigators found carbon monoxide levels of up to 600 parts per million — carbon monoxide becomes dangerous at just 101 parts per million, alarm maker Kidde warns.
Miller died “peacefully” in his sleep, his family said last month. His death was not believed to be suspicious, and investigators initially suspected that it was caused by asphyxiation after “food intoxication.” Miller’s family members — many of whom also fell ill, his parents said in an earlier statement — had also initially blamed food from a restaurant for their sickness, ESPN had reported.
However, asphyxiation was later ruled out, and Costa Rican National Police said the teen’s respiratory tract was clear.
Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, confirmed their son’s death in a statement shared via the Yankees on March 23. The couple, who share another son, Hunter, said they had “so many questions and so few answers.”
“Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile,” the statement continued. “He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.”
In a separate statement, the team wrote that “the Yankees family is filled with grief after learning of the passing of Miller Gardner.” The team honored Miller ahead of their Opening Day game against the Milwaukee Brewers last week.
Brett Gardner, a native of South Carolina who attended the College of Charleston, was drafted by the Yankees in 2008. He spent all of his major league career with New York, playing in the 2009 World Series that the team would secure and earning a Gold Glove in 2016.
Miller Gardner had been playing football in South Carolina, ESPN reports, and wore No. 11, the same number worn by his father while he played for the Yankees. Miller also played as an outfielder and pitcher on the baseball diamond, according to The Athletic.
Gardner last played with the Yankees in 2021.
The Associated Press and Nexstar’s Michael Bartiromo contributed to this report.
