Key Takeaways:

• Miller Gardner, the son of ex-Yankees player Brett Gardner, died on March 21 during a family vacation in Costa Rica.
• Authorities ruled out asphyxiation as the cause of death after finding his respiratory tract clear.
• Investigations into potential food poisoning are ongoing, with toxicology results expected in months.
• The Gardner family has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their son, who reportedly died peacefully in his sleep.

In a tragic incident, Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died on March 21 while the family was vacationing at the Arenas Del Mar resort in Costa Rica. Initially, authorities speculated that asphyxiation might be the cause of death; however, they later ruled it out after examining his respiratory tract and discovering no obstructions, according to the Costa Rican National Police and the Judicial Investigation Police (ABC News).

Police indicated that indications of food poisoning were present, and Miller's death occurred after he and several family members became ill the previous night. Dr. Kevin Gannon of a nearby urgent care facility reported that emergency personnel performed CPR for over 30 minutes, but Miller was unresponsive upon their arrival. “We tested him for cardiac arrest and performed CPR for more than 30 minutes,” Dr. Gannon stated, referencing the tragic circumstances surrounding Miller's situation (HuffPost).

While authorities initially mentioned potential asphyxiation due to food-related intoxication, it was later clarified that no such cause was confirmed. Investigators are now focused on determining the actual cause of death; toxicology reports could take anywhere from two to three months due to the backlog of autopsies in the country (CBS News).

The loss has impacted not only the Gardner family, deeply mourning the passing of their son, but also the New York Yankees organization, who expressed their heartfelt condolences and recognized Miller as a beloved young member of the Yankees family. Brett and Jessica Gardner released a statement expressing their sorrow: “We have so many questions and so few answers at this point,” as they try to cope with their profound grief (India Times, HuffPost).