When Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, was found dead in a Costa Rican resort room in March, the tragedy left his family and the baseball world searching for answers.
Nearly six months later, those questions have only grown more urgent after prosecutors carried out a raid on the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, signaling the investigation may be moving toward possible criminal charges.
Agents from Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) spent three hours combing through management and maintenance offices at the luxury property in Manuel Antonio on Thursday.
Prosecutor Kenneth Alvarez confirmed the operation was aimed at retrieving physical and digital records linked to the teenager’s death, which an autopsy determined was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
“This second proceeding was necessary to collect more evidence after toxic substances were detected on-site earlier,” Alvarez told ESPN. He added that while resort staff have been cooperative, investigators remain focused on whether negligence played a role.
Miller was on vacation with his family when he suddenly fell ill and never woke up on March 21. Two days later, Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, released a statement through the Yankees confirming the devastating news.
“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,” the family wrote.
“Miller was a beloved son and brother… he lived life to the fullest every single day.”
Initial speculation centered on food poisoning, but the narrative shifted in April when the OIJ confirmed Miller‘s toxicology report showed a lethal carboxyhemoglobin saturation level of 64 percent.
Investigators later pointed to a “machine room” adjacent to the Gardners‘ hotel room as a possible source of contamination.
Randall Zuniga, the OIJ’s director, emphasized the scientific clarity of the findings. “The young man’s organs had a very specific layer that is generated when a person dies from inhalation of carbon monoxide gases,” he explained.
U.S. coordination and potential charges
While no arrests have been made, the prosecutor’s office has acknowledged that the case is being examined under potential manslaughter statutes.
Alvarez confirmed that officials have maintained “constant contact” with the Gardner family’s attorneys in Costa Rica and are working with an FBI attaché to support the probe.
The raid marked the first full search of the resort since Miller‘s death. Television cameras captured investigators arriving in pickup trucks, underlining the public scrutiny surrounding the case.
Authorities removed files, computers, and other items that could shed light on whether resort safety protocols were ignored.
For now, the investigation remains open-ended, but Alvarez suggested prosecutors are intent on determining whether Miller‘s death was purely accidental or the result of negligence that warrants criminal accountability.
The teenager’s death has reverberated far beyond Costa Rica.
In South Carolina, where Miller attended high school and played football, tributes poured in for a young athlete known for his competitive spirit and love of the outdoors.
He wore No. 11, the same number his father sported throughout his 14-year MLB career.
The Yankees, who celebrated a World Series championship with Brett Gardner in 2009, released a statement mourning the loss and offering support to the family.
Across the league, former teammates and coaches expressed condolences, highlighting the bond Gardner built during his career.
What comes next
The Arenas Del Mar resort has expressed sympathy for the family but has not commented on the latest raid.
Safety at tourist destinations in Central America has become a growing concern, with carbon monoxide incidents raising questions about building maintenance and oversight.
For the Gardner family, the past six months have been marked by grief and the pursuit of answers.
While they have not spoken publicly since the autopsy findings were released, their legal team’s involvement in Costa Rica suggests they are determined to see the investigation through.
As the probe moves forward, authorities must weigh whether the evidence points to systemic negligence at the resort or an isolated tragedy.
Either way, Miller Gardner‘s death has cast a spotlight on resort safety standards and left a lasting impact on both a grieving family and the broader baseball community.
The mystery now is whether prosecutors in Costa Rica will take the next step and hold someone accountable for the loss of a 14-year-old boy whose life ended far too soon.
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