Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner, may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning while vacationing in Costa Rica.
Local authorities announced Monday that investigators detected “high levels of carbon monoxide contamination” in the family’s hotel room at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, per The Post.
“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,” Randall Zúñiga, general director of the Judicial Investigative Agency, said at a virtual press conference.
“The initial investigative findings indicate that the incident was due to this contamination, with levels as high as 600 parts per million detected — when the appropriate level in this case should be zero,” he added.
However, Zúñiga emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, and Miller’s toxicology results are pending.
Authorities previously speculated that Miller may have died after experiencing an allergic reaction to food poisoning medication or from asphyxiation, which were ruled out.
Miller was found dead in his hotel room March 21 after he and several family members got sick on their vacation.
Dr. Kevin Gannon, who runs Manuel Antonio Urgent Care, told People the teen had no vital signs and was “clinically dead” when medics arrived on the scene.
Gannon said his team “perform[ed] advanced life support CPR” for 30 minutes but “there was not much [they] could do for him.”
The medical professional also told Us Weekly that Miller and his family were experiencing “gastrointestinal symptoms,” but no additional details were provided.
Over the weekend, The Post confirmed the eighth grader’s body had been released to his family.
Funeral arrangements for Miller were announced Monday and memorial services will be held at J. Henry Stuhr Northwoods Chapel in South Carolina at a later date.
In Miller’s obituary, he was described as an honor roll student and athlete at Pinewood Preparatory School.
“The void Miller’s passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years,” the obituary read.
Miller’s family requested donations in his honor be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help children with “life-threatening medical conditions.”
