Tragic Death of Brett Gardner’s Son: Resort Finally Speaks Out

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The Costa Rican hotel where Miller Gardner died has spoken out.

Two days following the announcement made by former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and his wife Jessica, concerning the tragic passing of their 14-year-old son, Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort – where the family was on vacation – expressed their sympathies.

We’re profoundly sorry about this unfortunate event, and our sympathies are with the family who are going through a tough time,” said the hotel spokesperson in a statement on March 25 to People. “The reasons behind this tragic accident are still unclear, and we’re fully assisting the authorities as they conduct their investigation.

The resort stated, ‘We continue to prioritize the health and safety of our guests and employees, ensuring their well-being, and maintaining confidentiality for those involved.’

Additionally, the hotel declined any accountability for the four members of the Gardner family getting sick following their visit to a restaurant close by on March 20th, which occurred several hours prior to Miller’s passing.

Yesterday, neither lunch nor dinner was consumed at any of Arenas Del Mar’s eateries by the family. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that on March 14th, we underwent an inspection by the Health Ministry and scored a remarkable 98.5 out of 100 points.

Following a meal at an eatery outside the resort premises, Brett and Jessica, along with their 16-year-old son Hunter, returned to the Manuel Antonio resort feeling unwell. A medical team from the hotel administered medication to the Gardner family. Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, a representative for Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (JIA), informed NBC News of this incident. Regrettably, Miller’s body was discovered the following morning.

Initially, Costa Rican authorities stated on March 24 that the teenager’s death was due to asphyxiation from consuming a harmful substance. However, they have now changed their stance, as reported by their spokesperson.

According to Alvarado Garcia’s statement to NBC News, it appeared initially that asphyxia was not the cause of death because, upon examination of the body, there were no noticeable issues with the respiratory system on a larger scale.

While the outcome of Miller’s autopsy is still pending to definitively identify the reason behind his death, there’s speculation among authorities that it could have been due to something he ate, a medication he took, or an existing health condition, as suggested by Alvarado Garcia.

I’ve been pondering: could it have been the medication that set off a reaction, or perhaps an existing condition aggravated by his diet or medication? I shared my thoughts with NBC News. Until we get all test results back, the mystery remains unsolved.

Days before, Brett and his wife announced their son’s tragic death in a heart wrenching statement.

On March 23rd, they expressed their deep sorrow by stating that their cherished youngest child, Miller, had passed away. His absence leaves an unfillable void in our family as he was adored not only as a son but also as a brother. At this moment, we are struggling to grasp life without his radiant smile.

They went on saying, “He cherished football, baseball, golf, hunting, angling, his kinfolk, and his companions. Every day was a celebration of life for him.

Read on for more details in the case of Miller Gardner’s death.

Regardless of Brett Gardner having spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees, the outfielder and his wife Jessica Clendenin Gardner, who married in 2007, have managed to keep their sons Hunter and Miller mostly hidden from public view while living in South Carolina.

On some occasions, they would join in backing their father’s profession, as evident by their presence at the launch of his CCandy Children’s Clothing Line held at the MLB Fan Cave in New York City back in 2013.

In their heartfelt declaration about his passing, Miller’s loved ones depicted him as a boy with a radiant, contagious grin and one who embraced each day with exuberance and zest.

In a statement issued in March 2025, the New York Yankees fondly recalled Miller’s vibrant and spirited character.

Similar to his father, Miller demonstrated a knack for sports beyond just baseball. He dabbled in football, golf, fishing, and hunting as well. In a recent TikTok post, he expressed his longing for football by posting pictures from the field, remarking, “I truly miss it.

In their March 2025 announcement, the team, where Brett served from 2008 to 2021, fondly recalled Miller’s vivacious spirit and his kind-hearted, affectionate personality.

In the course of their discussion, they emphasized that not only Brett but also his wife, Jessica, and their two sons have been part of this organization for over 17 years.

According to a statement from Brett’s previous team, Brett and his family announced that Miller and some others fell sick during their holiday. Sadly, their 14-year-old son passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21.

They stated that Miller was deeply cherished as a son and a brother. At this moment, it’s hard for us to imagine our lives without his radiant, contagious grin.

Despite the sorrow they’re experiencing, the Gardners are struggling to understand the circumstances, as they themselves admitted, “We have numerous unanswered questions at present.

On the day following Brett and Jessica’s disclosure about Miller’s demise, it was communicated to Inside Edition by the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica that the family was holidaying in Central America during Costa Rica’s spring break when Miller passed away.

The Embassy also verified they were having talks with the Gardner family regarding arranging for Miller’s remains to be returned to the United States.

On the day following the unexpected demise of Miller, as announced by Brett and Jessica, Costa Rican authorities speculated that the adolescent may have died due to asphyxiation, potentially caused by swallowing a harmful substance.

Initially, it appears that the individual may have died due to suffocation, potentially caused by poisoning from consuming certain food. At present, this is a death under investigation and we’re waiting for the autopsy results and toxicology analysis to confirm the exact cause of death.

Instead, it was determined that suffocation wasn’t the reason for his demise, as there were no blockages discovered within his respiratory system.

Instead, they disclosed that Miller along with his parents and sibling had taken ill on March 20, following their visit to a restaurant and subsequent return to their hotel. This information was conveyed by Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia, an agency spokesperson, to NBC News on March 25. The hotel’s medical team provided treatment for all four family members. Unfortunately, Miller’s body was discovered in his room the following morning.

The investigation is ongoing and pending medical test results.

Two days following the Gardner family’s announcement of Miller’s passing, Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort—where the family was on holiday in Costa Rica—extended their sympathies.

In a statement made on March 25th, a spokesperson for the hotel expressed profound sorrow over this unfortunate event and extended their sympathy to the affected family, acknowledging the challenging period they are going through. The specific causes of this tragic incident remain unclear, and the hotel is fully assisting the authorities in their investigation as they work to determine the circumstances.

As a devoted supporter, I want to express that we are unwaveringly dedicated to ensuring the well-being and safety of both our esteemed guests and valued staff. While maintaining utmost respect for the privacy of those impacted, our resolve remains strong in this commitment.

The hotel additionally refused to accept blame for the Gardner family falling ill at a restaurant situated nearby, a few hours prior to Miller’s demise.

Yesterday, neither lunch nor dinner was enjoyed at any of Arenas Del Mar’s restaurants by the family, the resort representative clarified. Furthermore, on March 14th, we underwent an inspection by the Health Ministry and received a score of 98.5 out of 100, indicating a high level of cleanliness and safety at our hotel.

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2025-03-26 06:17