Asphyxation has been excluded as the cause of the death of former New York outfilder Yorki Brett Gardner, national police officers in Costa Rica told ABC News.
Authorities have determined that Miller Gardner has not died of suffocation as his airways have been clear, police said.
This comes one day after a government official of Costa Rica said Miller Gardner may have died from suffocation due to “food intoxication”.
This unquench photo, posted by New York Yankees on the social media website, shows 14-year-old Miller Gardner, son of former Yankees players Bret Gardner, who died, March 21, 2025, from a sudden illness while on a family vacation.
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Miller Gardner died on his sleep on Friday morning while the family was on vacation in Costa Rica, according to the family and the State Department.
The family felt sick after returning from dinner to a restaurant near their resort on Thursday, according to a source of Costa Rica, close to the investigation. The Gardner family stayed at the Arenas del Mar exclusive resort in Manuel Antonio.
“The hotel employees immediately sent a medical team, including a licensed doctor who arrived to deal with the emergency,” Arenas del Mar Resort said in ABC News.
“Our Arenas del Mar’s hotel protocol does not allow hotel employees to provide guest medicines,” the resort said.
Authorities are investigating whether Miller was allergic to any of the medicine he was given, according to the source. The autopsy has not been completed and are still considered preliminary, the source notes.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss and our hearts come out to the family,” said Arenas del Mar resort spokesman in a greater statement. “The factors that led to this tragic incident are unknown and we are fully cooperating with the authorities while they are investigating.”
More tests are being done to determine the cause of the teenager’s death, National Police in Costa Rican announced Tuesday. This can take up to three months to complete the autopsy due to significant demand in the country due to its high killings, police added.
Authorities said they did not believe his death suspicious at that moment of the investigation.
Police from the city of Queepos are conducting the investigation and will question the hotel employees on Tuesday, authorities said.
Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica Gardner, said their youngest child died “after getting sick with several other family members.”
“We have so many questions and answered so few at this point,” Garards said on Sunday in a statement posted by the Yankees.
Brett Gardner (far right) poses in this unsaid photo with his wife Jessica and sons, Miller (next to his father) and Hunter (far left).
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“Miller was a favorite son and brother, and we still can’t understand our life without his contagious smile,” Brett and Jessica Gardner said in the statement. “He has lived life to the greatest extent every day.”
Brett Gardner spent his entire 14-season MLB career with the Yankees and retired after the 2021 season. He was named the All-Star American League in 2015 and won the Golden Glove Award in 2016. He was also in the team that won the 2009 World series in 2009.
“Our hearts are heavy, and the Yankees family is grief,” the Yankees says in a statement. “Not only has Bret literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years – so his wife Jessica and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.”
“Our love for Gardner’s family is unconditional and absolute, and we will offer our lasting support,” the team said.
