Costa Rican prosecutors conducted a formal search Thursday of the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Manuel Antonio, the hotel where 14‑year‑old Miller Gardner — son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner — died on March 21, authorities said.
Prosecutor Kenneth Alvarez said the search focused on the hotel’s management, maintenance and accounting offices and was intended to collect physical and digital evidence following earlier on‑site tests. He said initial measurements had been taken weeks after the teen’s death and that the recent action represented a second proceeding to gather additional material for investigators.
Miller Gardner fell seriously ill while vacationing at the upscale resort with his parents, Brett and Jessica Gardner, and his brother, Hunter. Costa Rican authorities later determined the boy’s death was caused by inhalation of carbon, and investigators have said a machine room adjacent to the family’s lodging — which houses equipment for the hotel’s pool — may have released gases consistent with carbon monoxide exposure.
Initial reports said the boy had asphyxiated in his sleep after choking on vomit; an autopsy and subsequent investigations found no blockage of the windpipe and pointed instead to toxic inhalation. Prosecutors said they are working to determine whether the circumstances of the death could amount to a criminal offense such as manslaughter, but no arrests or charges have been filed.
Alvarez told reporters that hotel staff have cooperated with interviews and that the recent search was aimed at securing records and other materials that could clarify the sequence of events. He did not disclose specifics about the evidence recovered.
Brett and Jessica Gardner announced their son’s death on March 24, saying the family had "so many questions and so few answers at this point," and describing Miller as a beloved son and brother who "lived life to the fullest every single day." The family has not made further public comment since that announcement.
Brett Gardner retired after a 14‑season career with the New York Yankees, highlighted by a World Series title in 2009. Costa Rica’s investigation involves local prosecutors and technical experts, and officials have said the probe remains active as authorities review forensic results and the hotel’s operating records.
Investigators have not provided a timeline for concluding the inquiry. The search of Arenas Del Mar is the first formal raid of the property since the early investigation conducted in March, and prosecutors said additional steps may follow as evidence is analyzed.
