San Jose, Costa Rica – Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of the death of the adolescent son of former New York Voltueur Yankees, Brett Gardner, the Costa Rica authorities said on Wednesday evening.
Randall Zúñiga, director of the judicial investigation agency, said that Miller Gardner, 14, had been tested for carboxyhemoglobin, a compound generated when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood.
When the saturation of carboxyhemoglobin exceeds 50%, it is considered fatal. In the case of Gardner, the test showed a saturation of 64%.
“It is important to note that alongside this room is a dedicated machine room, where there is a certain type of contamination towards these parts,” said Zúñiga.
The Costarian judicial police chief added that, during the autopsy, a “layer” had been detected on the boy’s organs, which forms when there is a strong presence of toxic gas.
Gardner died on March 21 while staying with his family in a hotel on Manuel Antonio beach in the central Pacific of Costa Rica.
It was initially thought that asphyxiation had caused its death. Once an autopsy was carried out by the medical-legal pathology section, this theory has been excluded.
Another investigation line focused on whether the family had undergone food poisoning. Family members had felt sick after having dined in a neighboring restaurant on the night of March 20 and had received treatment from the hotel doctor.
Brett Gardner, 41, was drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and spent his entire career in major leagues with the organization. The fast voltigger struck .256 with 139 circuits, 578 products produced, 274 interceptions and 73 triples in 14 seasons from 2008 to 2021.
