Costa Rica authorities make new discovery in shocking death of ex-Yankees star's son

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As the Gardner family continues to mourn the shocking death of their youngest child, investigators say there is a new theory on the 14-year-old’s cause of death.

Costa Rican authorities announced Monday that they believe that Miller Gardner, the son of former New York Yankees all-star Brett Gardner, may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning while on vacation in the Central American nation.

Investigators reportedly found “high levels” of the noxious gas in the family’s hotel room.

Miller died suddenly on March 21 while the family was on vacation at a resort near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica.

He and other members of the family fell ill after eating a meal at the resort and Miller was found dead in his bed the following morning.

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Initial reports suggested that Miller likely died of asphyxiation in his sleep due to food poisoning, but that theory was ruled out when an examination found nothing blocking his airways, though there was vomit beside him.

Authorities also reportedly have considered the teen died from an allergic reaction to medication.

A source close to the investigation told ABC News there is a possibility Miller had a reaction to medication he was given after feeling sick.

But now, tests reportedly have revealed that there were “high levels of carbon monoxide contamination” in the family’s hotel room, according to Randall Zúñiga, general director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ).

“It’s also important to note that next to (the family’s) room there is a specialized machine room, from which it is believed some form of contamination may have reached the guest rooms, potentially causing the incident,” Zúñiga said in Spanish at a virtual press conference.

The joint investigation by the OIJ and FBI remains ongoing as final toxicology results have yet to be processed, Zúñiga added.

Further, It is believed that an autopsy could take two or three months to be completed, due to a backlog in the Central American country.

“Nonetheless, the initial investigative findings indicate that the incident was due to this contamination, with levels as high as 600 parts per million detected — when the appropriate level in this case should be zero,” he said.

Doctors on site at the resort the morning Miller was found told the New York Post they spent roughly 30 minutes trying to revive the teenager, to no avail.

Arenas Del Mar, the hotel at which the Gardners were staying, had issued statements denying any wrong-doing when authorities were investigating the theories of food poisoning and medication playing a role in Miller’s death.

“The hotel staff dispatched a medical team immediately, including a licensed doctor, which arrived to handle the emergency situation,” the resort said last week. “Our hotel protocol at Arenas Del Mar does not allow for hotel staff to provide any medication to guests.”

After asphyxiation had been ruled out as a cause of death — the teen’s airways were not obstructed, though he had vomited in his bed — food poisoning also has been considered in the case.

The Gardners, meanwhile, continue to grieve the shocking loss. The family shared an obituary for Miller, saying they will cherish their memories of the 14-year-old.

“The void Miller’s passing leaves in the hearts of his family, friends, teammates, teachers, coaches and others will be felt for years,” the family wrote. “The Gardner family will forever cherish the places they visited, the people they met, the friends they made, and the memories they created together.

“Miller’s time here with (his friends and family) was brief, but his spirit will carry on forever through those who were impacted by the way he lived,” the obit in the Post and Courier in South Carolina said. “Miller was so blessed with experiences and friendships in his 14 years, and would want other children to have the opportunity to create their own wonderful memories.”