The Costa Rican hotel where the son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner died has been raided by the authorities.
It was the first formal search carried out at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort since a week after Miller Gardner, 14, died on March 21.
His death was determined to be caused by carbon monoxide inhalation.
Prosecutor Kenneth Alvarez told ESPN that the three-hour raid was so investigators could collect additional evidence.
‘Let us remember that what was done at that time was the measurement of toxic substances at the site,’ Alvarez told ESPN. ‘Based on those tests, a second proceeding was scheduled, which was carried out today to collect evidence.’
Three pickup trucks carrying agents from Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department stormed the hotel to carry out the raid. They searched management, maintenance and accounting offices and collected both physical and digital evidence.
The Costa Rican hotel where the son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner died has been raided by the authorities
Miller was discovered not breathing the morning after the whole family had become violently ill
Several members of the hotel’s staff were also interviewed. Alvarez also said his investigation is focusing on a potential allegation of manslaughter but no arrest or charges have been made.
Initially there had been suggestions that food poisoning or an extreme reaction to medication had caused the teenager’s death. But a statement in early April from Randall Zuniga – general director of the OIJ in Costa Rica – said that carbon monoxide exposure had killed Miller.
‘Concentrations above 50% are already lethal. In this case, the saturation percentage is higher, thus proving the police’s hypothesis that the death was due to exposure to carbon monoxide,’ he said.
‘Other drug tests were conducted, including fentanyl and other substances; all were negative.’
A spokesperson for the resort had denied that carbon monoxide was present in Miller’s room, saying in April: ‘The levels in the hotel room were non-existent and non-lethal. There was an error in this initial reporting.’
The added that the poisonous fumers were detected in a ‘mechanical room that guests do not occupy’. But the room the family stayed in was still cordoned off at the time out of caution.
Gardner and his wife, Jessica, announced Miller’s death via the Yankees on March 23. They said Miller had fallen ill along with other members of the family on the vacation, where they were staying at the $1,000-a-night Arenas Del Mar resort.
Brett, Jessica and their eldest son Hunter had all suffered severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea following dinner at an outside restaurant the night before.
The Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort had contested claims of poisoning
Gardner, wife Jessica and their family had fallen ill in Costa Rica shortly before Miller’s death
Gardner played his entire career with the New York Yankees, winning the 2009 World Series
Desperate medics battled in vain for 30 minutes to try to kickstart 14-year-old Miller’s heart after he was found by a frantic family member who raised the alarm, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed at the time.
‘With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller,’ the Millers wrote.
‘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.
‘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.’
The family have not spoken out since that statement. Gardner played for the Yankees from 2008 until he retired in 2021, winning the World Series in 2009.
