Brett Gardner And Family Receive Troubling Autopsy Update In Son's Death
passed away on March 21 while vacationing with his family at the upscale Arenas Del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort near Manuel Antonio National Park.
The teen was found unresponsive in his bed following a dinner the night before that reportedly left the entire Gardner family suffering from severe stomach issues, including vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Unfortunately for the Gardner family, Costa Rican authorities revealed the family may have to wait up to three months for definitive autopsy results.
The delay comes as the country battles an unprecedented surge in gang-related homicides, clogging its forensic system and creating a significant backlog of cases.
Costa Rica's Judicial Investigations Agency (OIJ) confirmed that an autopsy was performed, but forensic teams are now working through a growing queue of homicide cases, many tied to violent drug turf wars.
'We're having a hike in homicides as these drug gangs battle for territory and every one of them needs an autopsy,' senior official Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia told Daily Mail. 'The full analysis and results will take at least two to three months.'
Costa Rica has recorded close to 1,800 murders in the past two years, with 63% reportedly linked to organized crime.
Amid the rising body count, Gardner's family is left waiting for closure, with doctors currently exploring several possible causes of Miller's sudden death.
According to Alvarado, investigators have now ruled out the initial theory of asphyxiation caused by food poisoning-related vomiting. Attention has shifted to three other possibilities: a bad or allergic reaction to medication given for the family's symptoms, an undiagnosed preexisting bacterial infection, or issues identified through neuropathology and histology exams.
Dr. Kevin Gannon, a local physician who heads Manuel Antonio Urgent Care, said emergency responders arrived to find the high school student 'clinically dead,' despite performing advanced life support CPR.
'There wasn't much we could do,' Dr. Gannon told People, noting that the circumstances of Miller's death were still 'confusing' and that his team was unable to determine a cause on-site.
Samples of the food served at the family's dinner on March 20 have also been collected and are undergoing analysis. If the results point to food as a contributing factor, a prosecution could follow.
One restaurant, Le Papillon at Hotel La Mariposa, issued a statement denying involvement, stating that the Gardners dined there three days prior to Miller's death and suggesting any claims connecting the two were 'entirely false and unfounded.'
'All the samples necessary for the results have been taken,' Alvarado said, confirming that the autopsy process itself is complete, though the wait for answers remains.
Arenas Del Mar, where the family had been staying, also responded in a statement. 'We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time," they said. "The factors that led to this tragic incident are unknown, and we are fully cooperating with authorities.'
Gardner, a New York Yankees World Series champion and fan favorite, and his wife released a heartbreaking statement shortly after Miller's passing.
'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,' they shared. 'Miller was a beloved son and brother… he loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends. He lived life to the fullest every single day.'
The US State Department told Daily Mail, "We are closely monitoring local authorities' investigation into the cause of death. Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones during this difficult time, we have no further comment at this time."
As the Gardners continue to mourn, they do so with a painful cloud of uncertainty hanging over them, hoping that in time, the answers they so desperately need will come.
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