A family vacation took a devastating turn when tragedy struck in a hotel room. What started as a seemingly ordinary night ended with an unthinkable loss for the Gardner family, leaving loved ones searching for answers. The initial suspicion? Food poisoning. But as details emerged, the truth pointed to something far more dangerous.

Authorities have now ruled out illness as a factor in the heartbreaking passing of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former Yankees star Brett Gardner. Instead, their focus has shifted to a silent, invisible threat—carbon monoxide. With a high level of toxins found in the room, the Fire Department’s specialized hazardous atmosphere team suspects the cause to be inhaling the contaminated air.

At first, the family was left grappling with the mystery. No warning signs, no clear cause—just an unbearable absence. Initial reports hinted at asphyxia after a possible intoxication from food, but something didn’t fit. Then came the chilling discovery. The forensic engineering done by the Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ) of Costa Rica revealed the matter of the odorless gas being the real culprit.

“It’s also important to note that next to [the family’s] room there is a specialized machine room, from which it is believed some form of contamination may have reached the guest rooms, potentially causing the incident,” theorized the General Director of the OIJ, Randall Zúñiga.

Reportedly, the OIJ is closely working with the FBI to check the “final results from forensic toxicology.”

The entire narrative has suddenly changed.

In the wake of such a heartbreaking loss, the Yankees paid tribute to Miller during their Opening Day 2025 celebrations. They honored his memory with a moment of silence at Yankee Stadium. “Miller was part of the Yankees family and his infectious personality and bright spirit will never be forgotten“, the team said in a statement. Despite the pain, the Gardner family has highlighted gratitude for the support from the team and the fans as they continue to seek answers.

Tribute to Miller Gardner from his loved ones  

A bright as a star teen – gone in the prime of his life – leaving everyone stunned and parents Brett and Jessica Gardner shattered. Their early-March announcement of Miller’s death clearly showed how they felt: “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.” His smile was infectious to them and the world, and we can deeply feel what the family must be going through!

The Gardners posted a touching obituary in Charleston, South Carolina’s Post and Courier. “Miller’s time here with them was brief but his spirit will carry on forever through those who were impacted by the way he lived. Miller was so blessed with experiences and friendships in his 14 years, and he would want other children to have the opportunity to create their own wonderful memories.”

To keep the bright kid’s memory alive, the Gardner family has decided to donate in honor of Miller to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Experiencing the non-profit organization’s firsthand impact on giving “hope, strength, and inspiration” to children and family in difficult times, “the family prays that joy and healing will come to others who share their grief.”

The love of Miller Gardner’s life also shared a grieving post on her social media handle. Zoe Williams compiled their shared moment on TikTok with the song Scott Street by Phoebe Bridgers. There were pictures and videos of the couple in matching clothes, ‘I heart my girlfriend/boyfriend’ tees, and sushi-themed snuggies. “…I just wish I could’ve said goodbye or talked to you or even given you a hug for one last time… I am so glad that I got to experience love with you even though we were too young to make it last. I’ll never trade the time we had,” wrote Zoe.

The love will be missed. But the memories will stay.