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Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What Happened to Miller Gardner and Sudiksha Konanki? Inside the Spring Break Tragedies
They were all sick. After going out to dinner on March 20 while vacationing in Costa Rica, retired New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, 41, his wife Jessica and sons, Hunter, 16, and Miller, 14, began suffering from what appeared to be food poisoning. A doctor was called to their Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort hotel to treat the family with over-the-counter medication to combat their symptoms, which reportedly included stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. But the next morning, Miller was dead. As his stunned loved ones pleaded for answers, officials explored multiple theories. Suggestions he died from asphyxiation due to a food allergy or that he'd had an allergic reaction to the medicine he was given the previous night, however, were swiftly ruled out. Then, on March 31, investigators revealed a breakthrough in the mystery: 'High levels of carbon monoxide contamination' were detected in the Gardners' room, the general director of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency announced, explaining that a 'specialized machine room' adjacent to the World Series champ's accommodations is the suspected source of the poisonous gas. And though a spokesperson for the resort initially denied that the levels in the room were lethal, the official toxicology report released on April 2 showed that the teen died of carbon monoxide exposure. The Gardners will continue to mourn. 'The void Miller's passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years,' his March 29 obituary read. 'The Gardner family will forever cherish the places they visited, the people they met, the friends they made, and the memories they created together.' She arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 hoping to have some fun with five of her girlfriends during a break from their classes at the University of Pittsburgh. Instead, Sudiksha Konanki vanished without a trace. Her final moments were caught on camera. Surveillance video shows the 20-year-old and another spring breaker she met on the trip, St. Cloud State University student Joshua Riibe, 22, with their arms around each other as they and a small group of revelers walked to the beach around 4:15 a.m. on March 6 after leaving a disco at Punta Cana's Riu Republica resort. Everyone else left, while Sudiksha and Joshua waded into the ocean and ended up 'talking and kissing a little' in 'waist-deep water' — until a wave crashed over them, sweeping them 'out to sea,' he told authorities in a March 12 interview obtained by NBC News. Joshua added that he battled rough surf to get them back to shore before passing out on the beach, the New York Post reported. He believed Sudiksha made it out of the water — but didn't see her again. He returned to the resort at 9 a.m. thinking 'she'd [already] grabbed her things and left.' At first, the case bore a chilling similarity to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005 — and Sudiksha's distraught parents demanded police probe whether she was the victim of foul play. Though he was never formally accused or charged with a crime, Joshua was detained for nearly two weeks before he was released on March 17. On March 28, a judge released his full reasoning for letting the student go, putting an official end to that element of the mystery. Upon learning that Joshua 'was not a suspect from the beginning … We are coming to terms with the fact our daughter has drowned,' Sudiksha's father, Subbarayudu, told reporters as her mother, Sreedevi, sobbed beside him. In a letter to Dominican authorities, they asked for their daughter to be officially declared dead. 'While no declaration can truly ease our grief,' they wrote, 'we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.'
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Miller Gardner, son of Yankees star, died of carbon monoxide poisoning: Officials
Miller Gardner, son of Yankees star, died of carbon monoxide poisoning: Officials Show Caption Hide Caption New details in death of Brett Gardner's son Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner, may have died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities in Costa Rica announced on Monday. Fox - 5 NY Miller Gardner, the teenage son of New York Yankees alum Brett Gardner, died from carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rica officials confirmed. A new toxicology report found the 14-year-old South Carolina boy's body had carboxyhemoglobin level of 64%, which is 14% above what is considered lethal, the nation's Judicial Investigation Agency said Wednesday. Costa Rican officials initially suggested that Miller died from asphyxia, when the body does not receive enough oxygen, after a possible intoxication tied to food. But asphyxiation was ruled out after "no macro-level abnormalities were observed in the respiratory tract upon inspection of the body," Juan Pablo Alvarado García, an official with the investigative agency, told USA TODAY on Tuesday. Miller's body was found in a hotel room in Costa Rica while on vacation, according to NBC News and CNN. Former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and wife Jessica Gardner shared the tragic news of their son's death on Sunday through the baseball team's social media pages. '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,' they wrote. USA TODAY reached out to the Judicial Investigation Agency on Thursday for more information. What is carboxyhemoglobin? Carboxyhemoglobin is a complex that forms when red blood cells are exposed to carbon monoxide, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Carboxyhemoglobin saturation levels above 50% are considered lethal, according to the center. Toxicity levels of 10% to 30% may also be lethal in patients with underlying ischemic cardiomyopathy. Who was Miller Gardner? Miller is the son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner. He is also survived by his mother Jessica and older brother Hunter, 16. Gardner played 14 seasons in the MLB, including on the New York Yankees' 2009 championship team, was named an All-Star in 2015, and won an American League Gold Glove in 2016 before retiring in 2021. Miller's parents said their son also loved baseball, as well as football, golf, hunting, fishing, and his loved ones. They added in their statement they are struggling to come to terms with life without the teenager and his "infectious smile." "He lived life to the fullest every single day," his family wrote. The family encouraged the public to make donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation, the non-profit that grants wishes for sick children. Where was Miller Gardner staying in Costa Rica? Miller Gardner was vacationing in Manuel Antonio, a resort area on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, when he and other family members got sick, CNN and NBC News reported. The Gardner family went out to dinner at a restaurant near the resort the night before his death when they began feeling sick and returned to the hotel, according to ABC News. Contributing: James H. Williams, Julia Gomez and Saleen Martin
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's son Miller died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rican officials say
Authorities in Costa Rica investigating the death of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's teenage son have concluded that he died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Miller Gardner, 14, was found dead on March 21 in his hotel room at the Arenas Del Mar resort in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, during a family vacation. In a statement Wednesday, Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency of Costa Rica, said toxicology tests for carbon monoxide showed a saturation level of 64% in Gardner's body. Concentrations above 50% of carboxyhemoglobin are considered lethal. Additional tests for the presence of drugs such as fentanyl were negative. Earlier this week, Costa Rican police said they discovered high levels of carbon monoxide while conducting tests in Miller Gardner's room at the resort. A spokesperson for the resort told ABC News that the high levels of carbon monoxide were detected 'in a mechanical room that guests do not occupy." "The levels in the hotel room were non-existent and non-lethal," the hotel spokesperson said. Costa Rican officials initially said that they suspected Miller Gardner died from possible "food intoxication," or food poisoning, and that they were working to determine if his death was caused by 'possible asphyxiation' from a reaction to the food. They later ruled out both as causes of his death. Brett and Jessica Gardner announced their son's death in a statement posted by the Yankees to X on March 23, saying he died 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 21," the statement read. "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.' Miller Gardner was Brett and Jessica Gardner's younger son. They have another son, Hunter. Brett Gardner spent his entire 14-season major-league career with the Yankees. The one-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner retired following the 2021 season. "Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss," the Yankees said in a separate statement posted to Facebook. "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." The Gardners expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support they've already received. "We are so thankful to all who have reached out to offer support and encouragement during this difficult time and we are confident our faith, family, and friends will help us navigate this unimaginable loss," the Gardners wrote in the statement. "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."
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's son Miller died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rican officials say
Authorities in Costa Rica investigating the death of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's teenage son have concluded that he died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Miller Gardner, 14, was found dead on March 21 in his hotel room at the Arenas Del Mar resort in Costa Rica during a family vacation. In a statement Wednesday, Randall Zúñiga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency of Costa Rica, said toxicology tests for carbon monoxide showed a saturation level of 64% in Gardner's body. Concentrations above 50% of carboxyhemoglobin are considered lethal. Additional tests for the presence of drugs such as fentanyl were negative. Earlier this week, Costa Rican police said they discovered high levels of carbon monoxide while conducting tests in Miller Gardner's room at the resort. A spokesperson for the resort told ABC News that the high levels of carbon monoxide were detected 'in a mechanical room that guests do not occupy." "The levels in the hotel room were non-existent and non-lethal," the hotel spokesperson said. Costa Rican officials initially said that they suspected Miller Gardner died from possible "food intoxication," or food poisoning, and that they were working to determine if his death was caused by 'possible asphyxiation' from a reaction to the food. They later ruled out both as causes of his death. Brett and Jessica Gardner announced their son's death in a statement posted by the Yankees to X on March 23, saying he died 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 21," the statement read. "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.' Miller Gardner was Brett and Jessica Gardner's youngest son. They also have an older son, Hunter Gardner. Statement from Brett and Jessica Gardner: With heavy hearts we are saddened to announce the passing of our youngest son, Miller. 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… — New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 23, 2025 Brett Gardner spent his entire 14-season Major League Baseball career with the Yankees. The one-time all-star and Gold Glove Award winner retired following the 2021 season. "Words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss," the Yankees said in a separate statement posted to Facebook. "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." The Gardners expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support they've already received. "We are so thankful to all who have reached out to offer support and encouragement during this difficult time and we are confident our faith, family, and friends will help us navigate this unimaginable loss," the Gardners wrote in the statement. "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."
NBC Sports
03-04-2025
- Health
- NBC Sports
Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death for former Yankees OF Brett Gardner's teenage son
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of the teenage son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, authorities in Costa Rica confirmed. Randall Zuniga, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency, said they tested the 14-year-old Miller Gardner for carboxyhemoglobin, a compound generated when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood. When carboxyhemoglobin saturation exceeds 50%, it is considered lethal. In Gardner's case, the test showed a saturation of 64%. 'It's important to note that adjacent to this room is a dedicated machine room, where it's believed there may be some type of contamination toward these rooms,' Zuniga said. The head of the Costa Rican judicial police added that, during the autopsy, a 'layer' was detected on the young man's organs, which forms when there is a high presence of the poisonous gas. Miller Gardner died on March 21 while staying with his family at a hotel on the Manuel Antonio beach in Costa Rica's Central Pacific. Asphyxiation was initially thought to have caused his death. After an autopsy was performed by the Forensic Pathology Section, that theory was ruled out. Another line of investigation was into whether the family had suffered food poisoning. Family members had reported feeling ill after dining at a nearby restaurant on the night of March 20 and received treatment from the hotel doctor. Brett Gardner, 41, was drafted by the Yankees in 2005 and spent his entire major league career with the organization. The speedy outfielder batted .256 with 139 homers, 578 RBIs, 274 steals and 73 triples in 14 seasons from 2008-2021.
