Asphyxiation ruled out in death of ex-Yankee Brett Gardner's son - ESPN

The death of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, remains under investigation, but possible asphyxiation has been ruled out, authorities in Costa Rica told ESPN on Tuesday.

Agents from the Quepos and Parrita office of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) are investigating, OIJ spokesperson Juan Pablo Alvarado Garcia said in a statement. Alvarado Garcia added by phone that the teenager's death had been handled as possible asphyxia, but that cause had been ruled out as of Tuesday.

Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, announced their son's death Sunday in a statement released by the Yankees. The statement said Miller had fallen ill, along with several other family members, while on vacation. «We have so many questions and so few answers at this point,» the statement said, «but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Friday, March 21st.»

Monday, both the United States Embassy in Costa Rica and the U.S. Department of State confirmed to ESPN the death of a U.S. citizen in Costa Rica on Friday, March 21, but offered no additional details on 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,» a State Department spokesperson told ESPN.

In a phone call Tuesday with ESPN, Alvarado Garcia said Miller Gardner was found in his hotel room in Manuel Antonio, a popular resort district, in the province of Puntarenas on Friday morning. He added that Miller Gardner's air passages were not obstructed, but there were traces of vomit.

The 14-year-old was with family members who told investigators they had «gone to eat at a restaurant and that the