The Loss of Miller Gardner

Alyssa VanPelt, Staff Writer

Brett Gardner is a former New York Yankees baseball player. Tragically, on March 21^st, 2025, his son, Miller Gardner, passed away. Miller Gardner was fourteen years old at the time of his passing. Miller Gardner had been at a beach resort in Costa Rica. According to ESPN, “Miller Gardner played high school football in South Carolina and wore No. 11, which his father donned during 14 MLB seasons, all with the Yankees. Brett Gardner, a popular team leader, was a member of New York’s 2009 championship team and retired in 2021.”

According to the Judicial Investigation Agency, or OIJ, of the Central American country, Miller Gardner’s death is believed to be the result of carbon monoxide inhalation. In CNN’s report of the tragedy, they wrote, “OIJ director Randall Zúñiga explained that the first results of tests conducted on March 21 – the day the teenager died in his hotel room at the Arenas Del Mar resort – with a specialized team for hazardous atmospheres came in after being conducted by the Costa Rican Fire Department’s engineering division and the OIJ.” 

The hotel sent out condolences to Brett Gardner and his family, stating, “We deeply regret the recent passing of a minor that occurred in our facilities due to causes that are still unconfirmed. We express our sincerest condolences to their family and loved ones during this time of immense sorrow. We are collaborating respectfully and diligently with the Costa Rican judicial authorities, who have taken on the corresponding investigation. We trust that the forensic process will clarify the real causes of this unfortunate incident in an objective, clear, and conclusive manner. For the moment, the investigation will continue its course with the analysis of the different theories put forth by the judicial authority. With respect to the ongoing judicial process and the privacy of the family, we will refrain from commenting on possible hypotheses or unconfirmed causes. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our guests and staff, and we reaffirm our permanent commitment to the highest standards in the operation of our facilities.”

Although the toxicology report may indicate carbon monoxide inhalation, ESPN reported that the Gardner family had gotten sick following a meal at a restaurant. Their article reads, “In a phone call on Tuesday with ESPN, Alvarado Garcia said the 14-year-old was with family members who told investigators that they had ‘gone to eat at a restaurant and that the food had made them sick.’ It is unclear which family members were with him and where the restaurant was located.” Perhaps at the time, it was believed to be from a foodborne illness, as many members of the family had become sick, including Miller Gardner. Additionally, “The OIJ spokesperson, Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, said no additional information about who else was in the room or how the carbon monoxide affected others in adjacent rooms was immediately available. The OIJ told ESPN last week that asphyxiation — once investigated as a potential cause of death — had been ruled out. Miller Gardner’s air passages were not obstructed, but there were traces of vomit, the OIJ said,” reported ESPN.