Cause Of Death Of Ex-Yankees Player's Son Remains A Mystery

NEW YORK CITY — The Costa Rican resort where the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner died last week broke its silence as officials continue working to determine the teen's official cause of death.

Gardner's family confirmed Miller Gardner's death in a statement released Sunday. In the statement, Brett and Jessica Gardner said their son died in his sleep Friday morning after he and several other family members became ill while on vacation in Costa Rica.

According to a new ABC News report, the family felt sick after eating dinner at a restaurant close to their resort on Thursday, a Costa Rican source close to the investigation told the outlet. The Gardner family was staying at the Arenas Del Mar Resort in Manuel Antonio.

"The hotel staff dispatched a medical team immediately, including a licensed doctor, which arrived to handle the emergency situation," the Arenas Del Mar Resort said in a statement to ABC News. "Our hotel protocol at Arenas Del Mar does not allow for hotel staff to provide any medication to guests."

Costa Rican officials on Tuesday ruled out asphyxiation in the teen's death because his respiratory tract was clear. Authorities previously told ABC News they suspected he died from possible asphyxiation from "food intoxication," or a reaction to the food he consumed.

A final autopsy report has not been released and it's unknown what Gardner may have eaten that made him ill. More tests are being done to determine his official cause of death.

"We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts go out to the family," a spokesperson for the Arenas Del Mar Resort said in an earlier statement sent to ABC News. "The factors that led to this tragic incident are unknown, and we are fully cooperating with authorities as they investigate."

In their statement released Sunday, the Gardners said they have "so many questions and so few answers at this point."

"Our prayers go out to Miller's teammates and friends, as well as to all other families who have lost a child far too soon as we share their grief," the family wrote.

The Yankees also released a statement following Gardner's death, saying the organization was “filled with grief.”

“Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss,” the team said in its statement. “It wasn’t just Brett who literally grew up in this organization for more than 17 years — so did his wife, Jessica, and their two boys, Hunter and Miller.”

Brett Gardner, 41, was drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and spent his entire big league career with the organization, according to The Associated Press. The outfielder batted .256 with 139 homers, 578 RBIs, 274 steals and 73 triples in 14 seasons from 2008 until 2021.