Carbon Monoxide: What Experts Say About Miller Gardner's Tragic Death

Brett Gardner was unaware of the dangers within his son Miller Gardner’s hotel room.

During a family trip to Costa Rica on March 21, the 14-year-old son of the ex-New York Yankees outfielder was tragically found dead. After almost two weeks of investigations, authorities confirmed that the teen’s death was caused by exposure to harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, which appeared to have seeped into his hotel room.

Regarding why Miller was so devastatingly impacted while his 16-year-old brother Hunter, their mother Jessica Gardner, and the former baseball star miraculously survived, Dr. Kos Galatsis, a carbon monoxide forensics expert, shed some light on the matter.

Dr. Galatsis shared two possible explanations with TopMob News, even though he wasn’t involved in Miller’s case. One possibility is that Miller was living nearer to the carbon monoxide source, resulting in higher exposure levels. The other theory suggests that a leak could have occurred at the source and then been funneled directly into Miller’s hotel room via the building’s ventilation system.

If Miller’s room was closer to the source, it would have exposed him to a greater concentration of gas, potentially causing a more severe reaction compared to the rest of his family. This is because, as per Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency’s findings, all four family members had fallen ill before Miller’s death, and they sought medical attention from the Arenas Del Mar hotel’s medical team prior to the incident.

Generally speaking, Dr. Galatsis outlined that hotel ventilation systems are intricate and may inadvertently pull carbon monoxide from multiple areas within the building, sending it to various parts of the system. As the concentration of carbon monoxide decreases as you move away from its source, he pointed out that being closer to the origin would lead to much higher levels of exposure.

In the opinion of Dr. Galitsis, hotels may feature linked heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that could unintentionally disseminate airborne pollutants across various floors. Differences in air pressure can cause certain areas to draw in more concentrated gases, potentially leading to hazardous zones with increased accumulation.

If an individual ends up in one of these “hot zones,” they might not even be aware of it, particularly if they were exposed during sleep. This gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless and doesn’t cause any skin irritation, making it undetectable to the human senses without specialized equipment.

Dr. Galatsis pointed out that many instances of carbon monoxide poisoning and fatalities happen when people are asleep,” he said. “This is due to the fact that as they lie still, they breathe in the harmful gas uninterrupted for long stretches of time.

Furthermore, as we can’t perceive carbon monoxide without specialized equipment, he underscored the importance of having carbon monoxide detectors when visiting nations where these devices aren’t mandated by law for hotels or residences.

For more details surrounding Miller Gardner’s death, keep reading.

Though Brett Gardner has played all his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees, he and his wife Jessica Clendenin Gardner, who married in 2007, managed to keep their sons Hunter and Miller away from public scrutiny in South Carolina.

On occasion, they also accompanied their father to his professional events, such as the launch of the CCandy Children’s Clothing Line at the MLB Fan Cave in New York City back in 2013.

In their heartfelt announcement, Miller’s loved ones portrayed him as a boy with an irresistible grin and one who truly embraced each day with zest and enthusiasm.

In a March 2025 statement, the New York Yankees also fondly recalled Miller, highlighting his “vivacious and spirited character.

As a follower of my father’s footsteps, I too have a passion for sports – not just baseball, but also football, golf, fishing, and hunting. In a recent TikTok post, I expressed my longing for the gridiron by showcasing pictures of myself in action on the field, accompanied by the caption, “Feeling the void.

Back in March of ’25, when the Yankees acknowledged the passing of my beloved Brett Miller, they couldn’t help but recall the fiery spirit that shone from his eyes. They also fondly remembered his heartwarming and compassionate character, a man who radiated love wherever he went.

Speaking from my perspective as a lifestyle expert, let me share an interesting point: Brett isn’t the only one deeply rooted in this organization; his family has been too. For over seventeen years, his spouse, Jessica, and their two sons have grown up alongside this organization, making it an integral part of their lives just as much as it is for Brett.

According to a statement from Brett’s previous team, both Brett and his family announced that their 14-year-old son, who had fallen ill while on vacation with Miller and others, passed away peacefully during the early hours of Friday, March 21st.

They penned that Miller was deeply cherished as a son and brother, and it’s still hard for us to fathom living our lives without his radiant, contagious grin.

Amidst our sorrow, my family and I are still working diligently to piece together the events that unfolded. As we shared in our statement, “We find ourselves grappling with numerous queries and scant answers at present.

A day following Brett and Jessica’s disclosure about Miller’s passing, it was reported by the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica to Inside Edition that the family had been on a spring break vacation in Central America when Miller died.

The Embassy additionally verified that they were engaged in talks with the Gardner family regarding arranging Miller’s return to the United States, which included transportation of his remains.

On the day following Brett and Jessica’s announcement about Miller’s unexpected death, Costa Rican authorities suggested that the teen most likely passed away due to asphyxiation, potentially caused by consuming a harmful substance.

As an overly eager fan, I’d rephrase that as: “Initially, it seems like the unfortunate demise might be due to suffocation after a suspected poisoning, possibly from consuming certain foods. At present, this is a case under investigation, with the autopsy results and Toxicology analysis pending. Once those come in, we’ll have a clearer understanding of the exact cause behind this tragic event.

Instead, the authorities determined that suffocation was not the reason for his death, since there were no blockages found within his respiratory system.

It was revealed by Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, a spokesperson for the agency, to NBC News on March 25 that Miller and his entire family – which includes his parents and sibling – had taken ill on March 20 following their return from a restaurant to their hotel. Medical staff at the hotel provided treatment for all four individuals, but sadly, Miller’s body was discovered in his room the following morning.

The investigation is ongoing and pending medical test results.

2 days following the Gardner family’s announcement of Miller’s passing, the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, where the family was holidaying in Costa Rica, expressed their sympathies.

As an ardent admirer, I’m utterly heartbroken by this heartrending turn of events. My sympathies extend profoundly to the family, navigating through this excruciatingly challenging period. The specifics behind this tragic event remain elusive, and we are unwaveringly collaborating with the authorities as they delve into the matter.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share that we, unwaveringly, stand by our promise to uphold the welfare and security of our cherished guests and team members. We are diligent in ensuring their wellness, all the while maintaining the confidentiality of those who have been impacted during these trying times.

Additionally, the hotel refused to accept accountability for the Gardner family falling ill at a neighboring eatery prior to Miller’s demise.

Yesterday, the family did not dine at any of Arenas Del Mar’s restaurants for either lunch or dinner. Moreover, on March 14th, the Health Ministry conducted an inspection here, and we received a score of 98.5 out of 100.

Following the resort where the Gardner family was lodged releasing a statement, Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, representing Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (JIA), disclosed that the autopsy findings for Miller would be postponed by several months due to a surge in local crime.

He stated to DailyMail.com that there’s an increase in murders due to the ongoing territorial fights among drug gangs, and each case requires a thorough post-mortem examination.

He stated, “Indeed, I can verify that an autopsy has been performed on Miller. However, comprehensive findings and results, just like all similar cases, will require around two to three months for analysis – this is due to the ongoing deaths creating a backlog in our system.

Alvarado Garcia indeed clarified that Miller’s demise didn’t seem to be caused by any recreational substances or alcohol.

Despite a delay due to the required procedures, it was clarified that since all necessary samples for Miller’s autopsy had been collected, his body can be sent back to the United States. However, the Gardner family is currently waiting on the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica to process their repatriation request.

On the occasion of their Opening Day 2025 celebrations held on March 27, Brett’s old team paused for a moment of silence to pay tribute to Miller.

At Yankee Stadium’s baseball field, during the memorial event, all players respectfully stood with their caps off as a picture of Miller Gardner, smiling, was displayed on the giant screen. The caption read, “Honoring Miller Gardner.

As an ardent fan, I’m sharing some intriguing insights: Randall Zúñiga, the head of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, stated during a press conference on March 31st that there was substantial carbon monoxide contamination within Miller’s hotel room. This finding could potentially explain Miller’s unfortunate demise.

Mentioning a specialized machine positioned nearby, Zúñiga implied that authorities suspect “a possible spread of contamination might have affected the guest rooms, potentially leading to the occurrence of the incident.

Despite some initial findings suggesting otherwise, it appears that contamination may have caused the incident, with concentrations as high as 600 parts per million found—a level that should ideally be zero in this situation. He went on to explain that they would hold off on announcing Miller’s cause of death until they receive the results from a comprehensive toxicology analysis.

2025-04-04 18:19

Carbon Monoxide: What Experts Say About Miller Gardner’s Tragic Death

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