A popular hotel in Costa Rica has issued a statement after being connected to the death of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees star, Brett Gardner.
Hotel La Mariposa, located in Manuel Antonio, Quepos, faced criticism on social media after it was revealed Miller and his family dined at its restaurant, Le Papillon, shortly before Miller’s death, which Costa Rican authorities believe may have been due to food poisoning.
“Due to misinformation circulating on social media, we would like to clarify that the Gardner family dined at our restaurant, Le Papillon, on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 18, 2025 — three days before Miller’s tragic passing,” the hotel posted via Facebook, which has been translated to English, on Monday, March 24. “Any claims suggesting a link between our restaurant and this heartbreaking event are entirely false and unfounded.”
The statement continued, “Any news, statements, or claims to the contrary do not reflect the reality of the situation. Furthermore, we do not have any additional information, as the Gardner family did not stay at our hotel.”
Related: Death of Brett Gardner‘s Son: What We Know and What We Still Need Answered
The death of former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller, left as many confounding questions as it provided answers. Miller died on Friday, March 21, while he was on a family vacation in Costa Rica. His preliminary cause of death was ruled as asphyxia “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some […]
Miller and his family — including his parents, Brett and Jessica — were staying at The Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort at the time of Miller’s death, roughly a half-mile from the Hotel La Mariposa.
“Despite media inquiries, we will refrain from making further comments out of respect for the privacy of the Gardner family,” the hotel added. “We appreciate our community’s understanding and respect, reaffirming our commitment to transparency and truthfulness.”
Hotel La Mariposa extended their “heartfelt condolences” to the Gardner family and said “our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time.”
Courtesy of Le Papillon Restaurante/Instagram
Miller died on Friday, March 21, which his parents announced in a statement via the Yankees, who Brett represented for all 14 of his MLB seasons before retiring in 2021.
The preliminary cause of death in the case was ruled as asphyxia “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food,” per an official with Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ) on Monday.
A representative from OIJ told CNN on Tuesday, March 25, that Miller’s cause of death was “asphyxiation due to intoxication related to food poisoning.”
However, an official from OIJ told Us Weekly on Tuesday that asphyxia had been entirely ruled out as the cause.
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Related: Brett Gardner’s Son Miller Was Following In His Footsteps Before His Death
Before his sudden passing on Friday, March 21, 14-year-old Miller Gardner was staring at a bright athletic future. Miller, son of former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner, died while on a family vacation in Costa Rica last week. His preliminary cause of death was ruled as asphyxia “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting […]
The resort where the Gardners were staying — and where Miller’s body was found — released a statement about the death to Us Weekly on Tuesday, March 24.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our hearts go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time,” The Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort said. “The factors that led to this tragic incident are unknown, and we are fully cooperating with authorities as they investigate.”
Officials estimate it will be at least “two to three months” before the full results of Miller’s autopsy and toxicology reports are released.
