The Costa Rican hotel where New York Yankee star Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner, died has issued a statement after authorities reported that carbon monoxide was found in his family’s hotel room.
“We deeply regret the recent death of a minor at our facilities due to unconfirmed causes,” the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort said in a Monday, March 31, statement to Us Weekly. “We express our sincere condolences to the child’s family and loved ones in this time of immense grief.”
The statement continued, “We are respectfully and diligently collaborating with the Costa Rican judicial authorities, who have assumed the corresponding investigation. We trust that the forensic process will objectively, clearly, and conclusively clarify the real causes of this unfortunate incident. For the time being, the investigation will continue with the analysis of the various theories put forward by the judicial authorities.”
The hotel concluded: “Out of respect for the ongoing judicial process and the family’s privacy, we will refrain from commenting on possible hypotheses or unconfirmed causes. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our guests and employees, and we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to the highest standards in the operation of our facilities. We appreciate your understanding regarding the sensitivity of this situation.”
Earlier Monday, Costa Rica authorities confirmed “high levels of carbon monoxide contamination” were detected in Miller’s room as part of testing carried out by a “specialized hazardous atmosphere team” from the Fire Department and forensic engineering performed by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ).
Miller died on March 21 while on vacation with his family. A preliminary cause of death was ruled to be asphyxia “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food” by the on March 24. However, Randall Zúñiga, the General Director of the OIJ, reported on Monday that the ongoing investigation has revealed that Miller “may have died from inhaling” carbon monoxide.
In a statement to the media, Zúñiga added, “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,” he theorized.
Zúñiga said that the OIJ notified both the local Fire Department and the Ministry of Health in order for them to “take appropriate action regarding this confirmed contamination in the room.” He reiterated that OIJ was working in tandem with the FBI in the U.S. as they “wait for the final results from forensic toxicology.”
“Nonetheless, 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,” Zúñiga said.
Brett and his wife, Jessica Gardner, confirmed earlier this month that they’d lost their teenage son.
“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 after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation,” they pair said in a joint 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.”
They continued: “Miller was a beloved son and brother and we cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. He loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.”
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