Following the death of 14-year-old Miller Gardner, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica has issued a health alert to travelers in the region.
Gardner, the son of former Yankees star Brett Gardner, died on March 21 of exposure to poisonous gases, including carbon monoxide, while vacationing with his family in the tourist region of Manuel Antonio.
“The Embassy alerts U.S. citizens to the risk of carbon monoxide,” the alert read. “Most countries in Latin America, including Costa Rica, do not have widespread laws mandating carbon monoxide detectors. However, some businesses (like hotels) or embassies may voluntarily install them due to safety concerns. U.S. citizens have suffered adverse effects or died from exposure to carbon monoxide.”
To avoid “harm from this odorless and dangerous gas while traveling overseas,” the Embassy suggested individuals ask if rooms or homes have carbon monoxide detectors installed and travel with a portable carbon monoxide detector to check your lodging.
Why the Gardner Family May Have Had Different Reactions to Carbon Monoxide
Miller’s cause of death was confirmed by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ) on April 2.
“In this particular case, a strictly scientific investigation was carried out, which allowed the real truth of the facts to be determined,” OIJ General Director Randall Zúñiga told Us Weekly in a statement. “In fact, during the autopsy, the organs of young Gardner showed a very specific layer that forms when a person dies from carbon monoxide poisoning or gas inhalation. That emphysema was both visible and very noticeable during the autopsy.”
After carbon monoxide was found to be responsible for Miller’s death, a forensic pathologist exclusively told Us Weekly how it could have happened.
“If exposure to carbon monoxide is not reversed, the person can die in less than 10 minutes due to brain hemorrhages, irreversible damage to these cells, and to other cells highly sensitive to oxygen deprivation, like those in the heart,” said Dr. Maikel Vargas-Sanabria, professor at the University of Costa Rica. “This ultimately leads to a shutdown of vital functions and cardiorespiratory arrest.”
Vargas-Sanabria, who is not associated with the case, explained that carbon monoxide goes directly into the bloodstream after entering an individual’s lungs, blocking the transportation of oxygen.
“As a result, the oxygen that enters the lungs cannot reach the cells because it can’t be transported through the blood,” the forensic pathologist said. “This leads to chemical asphyxiation, and within minutes — sometimes less than a minute — people begin to feel drowsy, start falling asleep, and after a few more minutes, as brain cells begin to die, they start convulsing.”
Miller was vacationing with his father, his mother, Jessica, and his older brother, Hunter, at Costa Rica’s Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort at the time of his death.
Who Could Face Charges and Prison Sentences Over Miller Gardner’s Death?
The Gardners announced Miller’s death in a statement released by the Yankees on March 23.
“With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller,” the statement read. “He was 14 years old and has left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation. 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.”
The statement 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. We are so thankful to all who have reached out to offer support and encouragement during this difficult time and we are confident our faith, family, and friends will help us navigate this unimaginable loss. Our prayers go out to Miller’s teammates and friends, as well as to all other families who have lost a child far too soon as we share their grief.”
