Costa Rican investigators on Friday carried out a three-hour raid at the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort where 14-year-old Miller Gardner, the son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died in March, officials and news reports said.
Prosecutor Kenneth Alvarez told ESPN the search was intended to collect additional evidence after earlier toxicology and site measurements suggested carbon monoxide exposure as the cause of death. The action was the first formal search of the property since roughly a week after Miller Gardner was found unresponsive on March 21.
Agents from Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department arrived in pickup trucks and searched management, maintenance and accounting offices, seizing both physical and digital materials, Alvarez said. Several members of the hotel's staff were interviewed during the operation. Alvarez said investigators are focusing on a potential manslaughter allegation, but no arrests or charges had been made as of the raid.
The investigation into Miller Gardner's death has spanned months and multiple lines of inquiry. Initially, family members' sudden illness while on vacation at the upscale resort prompted theories ranging from food poisoning to an adverse reaction to medication. Authorities later reported that tests showed carbon monoxide concentrations at levels they described as lethal.
"Let us remember that what was done at that time was the measurement of toxic substances at the site," Alvarez told ESPN. "Based on those tests, a second proceeding was scheduled, which was carried out today to collect evidence."
Randall Zuniga, then general director of the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), said in early April that measurements showed carbon monoxide saturation levels higher than those considered lethal and that other drug tests, including for fentanyl, had returned negative.
The resort has disputed some of those findings. In April a spokesperson for Arenas Del Mar said carbon monoxide levels in the family's hotel room were "non-existent and non-lethal" and said a detection of poisonous fumes had been in a mechanical room that guests do not occupy. The room where the Gardners stayed was cordoned off at the time as a precaution.
Brett and Jessica Gardner announced their son's death via the New York Yankees on March 23, saying Miller had fallen ill along with other family members during the trip. The couple said Brett, Jessica and their eldest son Hunter suffered severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea after dining at an outside restaurant the night before Miller was found unresponsive. Medics attempted to restart Miller's heart for roughly 30 minutes, news reports said.
Brett Gardner, who played his entire major league career with the Yankees from 2008 through his retirement in 2021, was part of the 2009 World Series championship team. The family has not issued further public statements beyond the initial announcement.
Costa Rica's probe into the circumstances of the teenagers' death has involved site testing, toxicology and interviews with resort staff and medical personnel. Local prosecutors have said the investigation remains open and that further measures could follow depending on evidence recovered during the raid and subsequent analyses.
The raid underscores how the case has moved from early theories of accidental foodborne illness or medication reaction to a formal criminal inquiry centered on environmental exposure. Authorities did not provide a timeline for when they might file charges or conclude the investigation.
Representatives for the Arenas Del Mar resort did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the search. The OIJ and Costa Rican prosecutors declined to provide additional operational details beyond statements made to news outlets. U.S. consular officials were not immediately identified as having commented on the matter.
Investigations into fatal exposures to carbon monoxide can involve multiple technical analyses, including repeated gas concentration measurements, inspection of HVAC and fuel-burning equipment, and review of maintenance, safety and inspection records. Costa Rican authorities have said they will continue pursuing evidence to determine the full circumstances surrounding Miller Gardner’s death.
As the probe continues, local prosecutors have emphasized that their actions are aimed at establishing facts and collecting evidence rather than announcing conclusions. No individual has been charged in connection with the death, and authorities have not released a timetable for the completion of forensic tests or legal decisions arising from the investigation.