Miller Gardner, Son of Ex-Yankees Star, Dies from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Sarah Johnson
April 3, 2025
Brief
Miller Gardner, 14-year-old son of ex-Yankee Brett Gardner, died from carbon monoxide poisoning during a Costa Rican vacation, prompting questions about hotel safety protocols.
The tragic death of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, has been officially attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Costa Rican authorities. The incident occurred on March 21 during a family vacation.
The investigation initially explored asphyxiation and food poisoning as potential causes, but on Wednesday night, Randall Zúñiga, Director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ), confirmed toxicology results revealing that Miller's carboxyhemoglobin saturation—a marker of carbon monoxide exposure—had reached 64%. Levels above 50% are considered lethal.
Zúñiga noted, "Adjacent to this room is a dedicated machine room, where it’s believed there may be some type of contamination toward these rooms." This raises serious questions about the hotel’s safety protocols.
The Gardner family was staying at the Arenas Del Mar hotel in Manuel Antonio, where earlier this week officials suggested carbon monoxide poisoning might be the cause. Hotel representatives, however, disputed the claims, insisting that testing revealed "non-existent and non-lethal" levels of carbon monoxide in the room.
Following the confirmation of Miller's cause of death, the family released a heartfelt statement, describing him as their "beloved son and brother" whose "infectious smile" will be deeply missed. They also noted that several family members had fallen ill during the trip.
"We have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep," the statement read. "He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day."
Brett Gardner, a former Yankees outfielder, spent 14 seasons with the team and was part of their 2009 World Series championship roster. He retired after the 2021 season, having spent his entire career in the Bronx.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by carbon monoxide, an odorless and colorless gas that can prove deadly without warning.
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Editor's Comments
This story is gut-wrenching, especially when you think about how preventable carbon monoxide poisoning can be. Hotels really need to step up their game when it comes to ensuring guest safety—no family should ever face this kind of heartbreak. Also, Miller’s family’s tribute is so moving, you can almost feel the love and admiration they had for him. It’s a tragedy in every sense of the word.
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