Entire Gardner Family Suffered ‘Severe’ Symptoms Before Miller’s Death

Former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner and his entire family became ill at their Costa Rican resort hours before his son Miller, 14, was found dead on Friday, March 21. 

An official for Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) told Daily Mail in a story published Wednesday, March 26 that the Gardners — Brett, 41, his wife, Jessica, their older son, Hunter, and Miller — suffered from “severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea” after eating at a nearby restaurant on the evening of Thursday, March 20. 

A doctor from the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, where the family was staying, was called immediately and gave them all medication for their symptoms. 

The next morning, Miller was found dead in his hotel room. 

Miller’s preliminary cause of death was originally classified as asphyxia “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food.”

An official from Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) then told CNN on Tuesday, March 25, that Miller likely died from “asphyxiation due to intoxication related to food poisoning.”

However, an official from OIJ told Us Weekly on Tuesday that asphyxia had been entirely ruled out as the cause after Miller’s airwaves were observed to be unobstructed. 

Authorities are now investigating whether the medication given to Miller the night before his death might be to blame.

“We’re doing toxicology tests to determine if this medicine could have caused the death,” the OIJ official told DailyMail.

The official also said they are investigating whether Miller “brought an existing bacterial infection” with him when he traveled to Costa Rica from the family’s home in Summerville, South Carolina. 

Results of Miller’s autopsy and toxicology reports will take months due to an outbreak in gang violence in Costa Rica, according to the OIJ. 

“We’re having a hike in homicides as these drug gangs battle for territory and every one of them needs an autopsy,” the official told Daily Mail.

The official added, “I can confirm that an autopsy has been carried out on Miller, But the full analysis and results, as in every one of them, will take at least two to three months due to these constant killings causing a backlog of cases. That’s the reality.”

Miller’s death was announced on Sunday, March 21, via a statement by the Yankees, for whom Brett played all 14 of his MLB seasons. 

“With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller,” the statement read. “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.”

The statement continued, “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.”