Greater than two months after the loss of life of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, authorities in Costa Rica say the case stays beneath investigation and that prosecutors try to find out whether or not the reason for loss of life might be dominated a murder.
Gardner died March 21 at a resort in Costa Rica, the place he had been staying together with his household. In late March, a consultant from Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Division (OIJ), confirmed to ESPN by textual content message that investigators believed the loss of life to be unintentional relatively than the results of foul play. On April 2, authorities mentioned his loss of life was brought on by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Since then, the case has remained open, in accordance with a spokeswoman for the Costa Rican prosecutor’s workplace dealing with the case. Sharon Hernandez Coto, a press officer from the Prosecutor’s Workplace of Costa Rica, on behalf of the Quepos and Parrita department, advised ESPN that authorities search “to find out whether or not the reason for loss of life was a murder or not, and, in that case, to determine duty.”
Requested whether or not a murder investigation is normal process, or if there was suspicion of foul play, the spokeswoman mentioned: “The aim of the investigation is exactly to find out whether or not or not we’re coping with a doable murder. Because of this, it’s not doable at the moment to substantiate or rule out {that a} crime has been dedicated.”
She mentioned each case is dealt with individually. The prosecutor’s workplace advised ESPN that there is no such thing as a timetable for the investigation to be accomplished. Hernandez Coto reiterated that the case is beneath investigation and added: “The intention is to find out whether or not it was a pure or homicidal loss of life.”
In response to a number of further questions, Hernandez Coto responded: “The Quepos and Parrita Prosecutor’s Workplace indicated that it’s not doable to offer extra particulars past these already equipped, because the case is beneath investigation, a stage which is non-public for third events. We admire your understanding.”
The prosecutor’s workplace directed ESPN to a 33-page guide on Costa Rican prison process, which explains the method of a prosecutor workplace’s investigation. The primary stage, which incorporates the gathering and evaluation of proof, search warrants, autopsies and requests for pretrial detention, concludes with a prosecutor’s formal accusation, a request for a provisional dismissal or a request to shut the case. A second stage can contain a choice to file formal costs. The subsequent step could be a trial stage, adopted by any doable appeals. It was unclear which stage the Gardner case is at within the course of.
The Gardner household declined to remark.
Brett Gardner and his spouse, Jessica, introduced their son’s loss of life March 23 in an announcement launched by the Yankees. In accordance with the assertion, Miller Gardner had fallen sick together with a number of different members of the family whereas on trip.
In a cellphone name with ESPN two days later, an OIJ spokesperson mentioned Miller Gardner was with members of the family who advised investigators that that they had “gone to eat at a restaurant and that the meals had made them sick.” In that interview, the spokesperson mentioned the OIJ thought-about asphyxiation earlier than ruling it out.
OIJ director Randall Zuniga then described in a information convention on March 28 how “the room the household was staying in” was examined every week after Miller Gardner’s loss of life and “excessive emissions of carbon monoxide have been detected.”
A consultant from OIJ advised ESPN that the case was despatched to the prosecutor’s workplace in Quepos, a city close to the Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, the place {the teenager}’s physique was present in his room.
Miller Gardner performed highschool soccer in South Carolina and wore No. 11, which his father donned throughout 14 MLB seasons, all with the Yankees. Brett Gardner, a preferred crew chief, was a member of New York’s 2009 championship crew and retired in 2021.
