Miller Gardner may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rica official says

Miller Gardner may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning after tests revealed elevated levels of the potentially lethal gas in the hotel room he had been staying in, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, or OIJ.

Gardner, the youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died March 21 at the age of 14 while on vacation with his family. According to a statement from the Gardners, he died in his sleep after he and several other family members fell ill.

OIJ Director Rándall Zúñiga said Monday that a team testing the family’s hotel room found high levels of carbon monoxide, and that the room where they stayed was situated next to “a specialized machine room” that could have caused the contamination. The test results led the OIJ’s investigators to believe Gardner “may have died from inhaling these highly dangerous gases,” Zúñiga said in a video statement in Spanish.

“It is also important to highlight that this entire investigation has been closely coordinated with the United States FBI, and we await the final results of the forensic toxicology to determine exactly what caused this young man’s death,” Zúñiga said.

The hotel said in a statement Monday to CBS News, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss that recently occurred on our premises due to causes that have not yet been confirmed. We are diligently cooperating with the Costa Rican judicial authorities, who have taken over the investigation. We trust that the forensic process will objectively, clearly, and conclusively clarify the causes of this unfortunate incident.”

“Out of respect for the ongoing judicial process and the family’s privacy, we will refrain from commenting on any unconfirmed hypotheses or possible causes,” the hotel added. “Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our guests and staff, and we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to the highest operational standards within our facilities.”

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is produced when fossil fuels are burned. Cars, furnaces, stoves, certain heaters and generators can all produce carbon monoxide. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and confusion.

An official cause of death has yet to be determined. OIJ previously said autopsy results could take two to three months.

The Gardners were vacationing at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Manuel Antonio, which is along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, some 50 miles south of San José.

The family did not provide further details about who else had gotten sick or what symptoms they experienced.

An obituary posted online described Miller Gardner as an Honor Roll student who played football and baseball and loved traveling with his family.

“The void Miller’s passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years,” it said. “Miller’s time here with them was brief but his spirit will carry on forever through those who were impacted by the way he lived. 

OIJ had said earlier in the investigation that the cause of death may have been food poisoning, but the investigation was ongoing.”

The update on a possible cause of death comes days after authorities in Belize said three American women who were found dead in their hotel room in the country last month had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.