The son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner died from carbon monoxide poisoning while staying at a Costa Rican hotel, authorities confirmed Wednesday night.
Miller Gardner, just 14 years old, passed away on March 21 at a hotel on Manuel Antonio beach in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region. Initial reports suggesting asphyxiation were quickly ruled out as investigators worked to determine the cause.
Randall Zúñiga, Director of the Judicial Investigation Agency, revealed that tests showed dangerous levels of carboxyhemoglobin in the teenager’s blood – a compound that forms when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin.
“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 explained.
The autopsy detected a “layer” of carboxyhemoglobin on Miller’s organs, indicating exposure to the poisonous gas. His blood showed a 64% saturation level – well above the 50% threshold considered lethal.
The Yankees honored Miller’s memory with a moment of silence during Opening Day, while Aaron Judge paid tribute to the Gardner family during the team’s roll call at Yankee Stadium.
Brett Gardner was a fixture in pinstripes for 14 seasons after being selected in the third round of the 2005 MLB Draft. The speedy lefty made his debut in 2008 and spent his entire career in The Bronx, posting a .256 career average with 139 homers, 578 RBIs, and 274 steals. He was also a key contributor to the Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship team – the franchise’s 27th title.
