Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, or OIJ, has determined that Miller Gardner may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning after testing showed high concentrations of the potentially fatal gas in the hotel room he was staying in.
While on vacation with his family, Gardner, the youngest son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, passed away on March 21 at the age of 14. He and numerous other family members became ill, and he passed away in his sleep, the Gardners said in a statement.
A team analyzing the family’s hotel room discovered significant amounts of carbon monoxide, according to OIJ Director Rándall Zúñiga on Monday. The room they slept in was next to “a specialized machine room” that may have contributed to the pollution. Gardner “may have died from inhaling these highly dangerous gases,” according to the test results, Zúñiga added in a Spanish video statement.
“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 added.
“We are devastated by the tragic loss that recently occurred on our premises due to causes that have not yet been confirmed,” the hotel said in a statement to CBS News on Monday. The investigation has been turned over to Costa Rican judicial authorities, with whom we are working closely. We have faith that the forensic procedure will unbiasedly, lucidly, and definitively shed light on the reasons behind this regrettable tragedy.”
“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 stated. “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.”
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas. Carbon monoxide can come from generators, furnaces, stoves, cars, and some heaters. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headache, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and disorientation.
The cause of death has not yet been officially established. The OIJ previously stated that it could take two to three months to get autopsy results.
About 50 miles south of San José, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, the Gardners were on holiday at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Manuel Antonio.
Regarding who else had been ill and what symptoms they had, the family did not elaborate.
Although the inquiry was still underway, OIJ had previously stated that food poisoning might have been the cause of death.
The new information regarding a potential cause of death comes days after Belizean authorities declared that three American ladies who were discovered dead in their hotel room there last month had been poisoned by carbon monoxide.
Miller Gardner may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rica official says.
