After weeks of uncertainty and heartbreak, Yankees legend Brett Gardner and his family have some closure since it was confirmed that a silent and deadly killer claimed the life of 14-year-old Miller.
On March 21, Brett Gardner, the former New York Yankees outfielder, and his wife Jessica revealed that their 14-year-old son Miller had died in his sleep while on a family vacation in Costa Rica.
The Gardners were staying at Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, a luxury retreat nestled along Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline, approximately 50 miles south of San José.
“With heavy hearts, we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon,” Gardner, 41, and his wife Jessica said in the statement. “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.”
Mysterious death
According to the teen’s parents, Miller and other members of the family fell ill after eating a meal at the resort and the following morning, the eighth-grader was found dead in his bed.
Initial reports suggested that Miller likely died of asphyxiation in his sleep due to food poisoning, but that theory was ruled out when an examination found nothing blocking his airways, though there was vomit beside him.
And then Costa Rican officials pointed to “high levels of carbon monoxide contamination” in the room, though the resort argued there was no lethal carbon monoxide present at all.
“The levels in the hotel room were non-existent and non-lethal. There was an error in this initial reporting,” the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort told the New York Post.
Silent but deadly
Despite the resort’s claims, Costa Rican authorities refused to back down from their original statements, suggesting that exposure to the deadly gas may have played a role in the teenager’s death.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is often silent but deadly – an odorless and colorless gas that can lead to unconsciousness and death in a matter of minutes.
But with the resort insisting that no lethal levels were detected, the mystery became more complicated.
Contaminated room
According to the New York Post, the resort didn’t deny that investigators found carbon monoxide, but claimed the high levels only were detected in a “mechanical room that guests do not occupy.”
On March 31, Randall Zúñiga, director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency, said that the Gardner family’s room was next to the mechanical room in question, which could have led to “contamination.”
“It’s also important to note that next to (the family’s) room there is a specialized machine room, from which it is believed some form of contamination may have reached the guest rooms, potentially causing the incident,” Zúñiga said in Spanish at a virtual press conference.
Lethal levels of CO
Now, after days of speculation and uncertainty, authorities in Costa Rica have confirmed the devastating truth – Miller’s cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.
On April 2, Zúñiga revealed the results of the toxicology tests showed dangerously high levels of carboxyhemoglobin, a compound that forms when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood, preventing oxygen from reaching vital organs.
In a statement shared with local publication crhoy.com, Zúñiga confirmed “The toxicology results are in and the carboxyhemoglobin test found a saturation of 64%. Concentrations above 50% are already lethal.”
The release continues, “In this case, the saturation percentage is higher, thus proving the police’s hypothesis that the death was due to exposure to carbon monoxide.”
He added that “other drugs tests were conducted, including fentanyl and other substances; all were negative.”
‘Spirit will carry on forever’
Meanwhile, loved ones are honoring the life of Miller – described in his obituary as an active teenager – who “was a member of the middle school football team and junior varsity baseball team, as well as the school Honor Roll.”
“The void Miller’s passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years…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.”
As the Gardners grieve, we hope that Miller’s story will lead to increased awareness and prevent future tragedies.
Our hearts are with Brett Gardner and his family as they navigate this painful loss. Please share your condolences in the comments section below and then share this story so we can spread the love.
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