Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and Jessica Gardner, died on March 21, 2025, during a family vacation in Costa Rica. The family initially said that Miller and several relatives had become ill and that he died peacefully in his sleep. Costa Rican authorities later reported that toxicology testing identified carbon monoxide poisoning, including a reported carboxyhemoglobin level of 64%.
Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and Jessica Gardner, died on March 21, 2025, during a family vacation in Costa Rica. The Gardner family initially said that Miller and several relatives had become ill and that he died peacefully in his sleep. Costa Rican authorities later reported that toxicology testing identified carbon monoxide poisoning, including a reported carboxyhemoglobin level of 64%.
The family’s announcement, distributed through the Yankees on March 23, asked for privacy. Because the investigation and subsequent civil litigation have continued, it is important to distinguish the family’s initial statement, early investigative theories, later toxicology findings and allegations made in court.
What happened to Miller Gardner
Miller was staying with his family at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, when he died on Friday, March 21, 2025. The family said Miller and other relatives had fallen ill during the trip. It did not initially provide detailed medical information and requested that the family’s privacy be respected.
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The Yankees described the Gardner family as having a longstanding relationship with the organization and expressed support for Brett, Jessica, their daughter Hunter and the wider family. The club later held a moment of silence for Miller before its March 27 Opening Day game.
Early reports considered food poisoning and asphyxiation
Initial accounts from Costa Rican officials considered whether the family’s illness could have been related to food poisoning. Early reporting also discussed possible asphyxiation after the family reportedly became sick following dinner.
Those explanations were preliminary, not a final cause of death. Subsequent reporting said authorities ruled out asphyxiation after finding that Miller’s airways were clear. The early food-poisoning theory should likewise not be presented as the cause of his death.
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Authorities later reported carbon monoxide poisoning
Costa Rican authorities later said toxicology testing established carbon monoxide poisoning. The reported test showed a carboxyhemoglobin saturation of 64%, a level the director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police, or OIJ, described as lethal. Reporting on the examination said tests for fentanyl and other drugs or toxic substances were negative.
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Investigation continued after the death
The Associated Press reported that Costa Rican authorities raided the resort again in September 2025. The renewed raid showed that investigative activity continued, but the available report did not establish that a criminal charge had been filed or that there had been a final criminal disposition.
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What the Gardner family’s lawsuit alleges
On March 20, 2026, Brett and Jessica Gardner and other relatives filed a federal negligence and wrongful-death lawsuit concerning Miller’s death. The case names resort owners and operators and associated Pennsylvania executives as defendants.
According to the complaint, the defendants failed to follow basic safety standards, improperly ventilated a machine room and allowed carbon monoxide to reach the family’s accommodations. The lawsuit seeks damages under several legal theories, including wrongful death, gross negligence, emotional distress, breach of warranty and loss of filial consortium.
These claims are allegations in a civil complaint, not findings by a court. As of the available reporting, there had been no determination that the resort or any defendant was legally responsible. The available sources also do not establish whether the case was dismissed, settled, tried or resolved by a judgment.
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Carbon monoxide safety basics
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends alarms on every level of a home and outside sleeping areas.
Those recommendations are general safety guidance and do not establish that a consumer alarm would have prevented Miller Gardner’s death. People who suspect carbon monoxide exposure should leave the building immediately, get into fresh air and contact emergency services or local poison-control resources rather than re-entering to investigate the source.
For households reviewing their own precautions, a carbon monoxide detector can be one part of a broader safety plan, alongside proper installation and maintenance of fuel-burning appliances and attention to official alarm instructions. The product reference is provided for general prevention only and is not connected to the Gardner family’s case.
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- Miller Gardner died at age 14 on March 21, 2025, while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica.
- The family initially said that Miller and other relatives became ill and requested privacy.
- Food poisoning and asphyxiation were discussed in early reports as possible explanations, but they were not the later reported final finding.
- Costa Rican authorities later reported toxicology evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning and a 64% carboxyhemoglobin level.
- Authorities continued investigating the resort, including a reported raid in September 2025.
- The Gardner family filed a wrongful-death and negligence lawsuit in March 2026, but the complaint’s allegations have not been adjudicated.
The Gardner family has asked the public to respect its privacy as it mourns Miller. Any later account of the case should be checked against updated court records and official investigative findings before describing the litigation or responsibility for the death as resolved.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When did Brett Gardner’s son Miller die?
Miller Gardner died on March 21, 2025, during a family vacation in Costa Rica. He was 14 years old.
What was reported as Miller Gardner’s cause of death?
Costa Rican authorities later reported that toxicology testing established carbon monoxide poisoning and found a reported carboxyhemoglobin level of 64%. Early reports had considered food poisoning and asphyxiation, but those were preliminary theories rather than the later reported finding.
Did the Gardner family sue the Costa Rica resort?
The Gardner family filed a federal wrongful-death and negligence lawsuit on March 20, 2026. The complaint alleges failures involving safety standards and ventilation at the resort, but the allegations have not been adjudicated. The available reporting does not establish a settlement, dismissal, trial or judgment.
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What do U.S. agencies recommend for carbon monoxide safety?
The CDC recommends battery-operated or battery-backup CO detectors near sleeping areas. The CPSC recommends alarms on every level of a home and outside sleeping areas. These are general safety recommendations and do not establish that an alarm would have prevented this specific death.
The Bottom Line
Miller Gardner died at 14 during a March 2025 family vacation in Costa Rica. Although early reports considered food poisoning and asphyxiation, Costa Rican authorities later reported that toxicology testing found carbon monoxide poisoning. A 2026 wrongful-death lawsuit alleges failures by the resort and related defendants, but those claims remain unresolved and are not court findings.
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