Costa Rica hotel raided in Gardner investigation

Nearly six months aft the decease of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old lad of erstwhile New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, authorities successful Costa Rica connected Thursday raided the edifice successful which the lad was recovered dead, and a authoritative suggested the probe could effect successful a manslaughter case.

In his archetypal media interrogation astir the case, authoritative Kenneth Alvarez told ESPN connected a video telephone that the three-hour raid astatine the Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort successful Manuel Antonio was to cod further grounds related to what an autopsy determined to beryllium Miller Gardner's c monoxide death. It was the archetypal ceremonial hunt of the edifice since authorities went to the edifice a week aft the death.

"Let america retrieve that what was done astatine that clip was the measurement of toxic substances astatine the site," Alvarez told ESPN. "Based connected those tests, a 2nd proceeding was scheduled, which was carried retired contiguous to cod evidence."

With tv cameras waiting astatine the edifice entrance, 3 pickup trucks carrying agents from Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) arrived to behaviour the raid.

Alvarez, who has said the probe centers astir imaginable allegations of manslaughter, told ESPN that authorities searched the offices of management, attraction and accounting, retrieving some carnal and integer evidence. The authoritative besides said that respective members of the edifice unit person been interviewed and "have ever shown themselves to beryllium collaborative." There person been nary arrests oregon charges successful the case.

Brett Gardner could not beryllium reached for remark Thursday, and a typical from the Yankees did not instantly respond.

Alvarez said Public Ministry officials person had "constant interaction with the lawyers that the Gardner household hired successful Costa Rica."

"They knew astir the operation, and we person remained successful communication," helium said.

He added that authorities person coordinated with an FBI attaché successful Costa Rica, to assistance "guide the archetypal probe and larn a spot astir the illustration of the persons."

Miller Gardner died March 21 astatine the Costa Rican edifice wherever helium was staying with his family. Brett Gardner and his wife, Jessica, announced their youngest son's decease 2 days aboriginal successful a connection released by the Yankees. According to the statement, Miller Gardner had fallen sick on with respective different household members portion connected vacation.

Two days aft that statement, a typical from the OIJ told ESPN that Miller Gardner and household members had "gone to devour astatine a edifice and that the nutrient had made them sick." In that interview, the spokesperson said the OIJ considered asphyxiation earlier ruling it out. The OIJ aboriginal confirmed to ESPN by substance connection that investigators believed the decease to beryllium accidental alternatively than the effect of foul play.

On April 2, authorities said the decease was caused by c monoxide, which mightiness person emanated from an adjacent "machine room." In June, a typical from the prosecutor's bureau told ESPN that the lawsuit remained nether probe and that prosecutors sought "to find whether the origin of decease was a homicide oregon not, and, if so, to found responsibility."

Miller Gardner played precocious schoolhouse shot successful South Carolina and wore No. 11, which his begetter donned during 14 MLB seasons, each with the Yankees. Brett Gardner, a fashionable squad leader, was a subordinate of New York's 2009 title squad and retired successful 2021.

Freelance writer Victor Fernández Gutiérrez contributed to this report.