Cause of Death Revealed for Ex-Yankee Brett Gardner’s Teenage Son

Miller Gardner died in Costa Rica during a family vacation.

New York Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner (11) hits a game-tying three run home run in the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, N.Y., on Sept. 8, 2021. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

Costa Rican authorities announced this week that carbon monoxide poisoning caused the death of 14-year-old Miller Gardner, the son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner.

Miller died in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, while on a family vacation.

Costa Rican judicial police officials said that the teenager’s carboxyhemoglobin test showed a saturation of 64 percent. Carboxyhemoglobin is created when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood.

“In this particular case, the saturation of 64 percent is much higher than the 50 percent that is considered lethal,” Judicial Investigation Agency director Randall Zúñiga said in a statement obtained by NTD. “This proves the police hypothesis that the death was due to exposure to poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide.”

As previously reported in NTD, Miller fell ill during the family getaway but did not awaken on Friday, March 21.

It was initially thought that the youth died of asphyxiation until an autopsy was completed by the forensic pathology division.

“When the autopsy was performed, young Gardner’s organs had a very specific layer that develops when a person dies from carbon monoxide inhalation, and this emphysema was visible and very palpable when the minor’s autopsy was performed,” Zúñiga said.

The agency director further stated that tests were conducted for fentanyl and other drugs, but the results were negative.

He added that the case will be closed after the toxicology report is forwarded to the forensic medicine department.

The public relations representative for the Arenas Del Mar resort, where ABC News reported the Gardner family was staying, did not respond to a request for comment from NTD before press time.

The Gardner family also did not respond to requests for comment. In a March 23 post on social media platform X, Gardner, 41, and his wife, Jessica, wrote, “Miller was a beloved son and brother, and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st.”

Brett Gardner played with the Yankees for 14 years, from 2008 to 2021. The left-handed outfielder helped the Yankees win their 27th World Series championship in 2009.  The World Series champion baseball player won the MLB Heart and Hustle Award in 2017, the Gold Glove Award in 2016, and was named an American League All-Star in 2015.

In a separate March 23 statement, the New York Yankees team said on Facebook that Miller had grown up with the Major League Baseball (MLB) organization.

“Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees family is filled with grief after learning of the passing of Miller Gardner,” the Yankees stated. “Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss. Our love for the Gardner family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our enduring support while understanding their desire for privacy at this time. May Miller rest in peace.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News