Police are investigating Presley Gerber’s death as a suspected overdose after the 27-year-old model was found unresponsive at a rehabilitation facility in the Los Angeles area.

Gerber was the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber. His younger sister, Kaia Gerber, is a model and actress.

A representative confirmed his death on September 21 and asked for privacy while the family grieves during what they described as a “very difficult and painful time.” Paris Hilton, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham were among those who later paid tribute, saying they were “heartbroken.”

What police have said about the investigation

The Santa Monica Police Department said officers responded to a report of a “possible overdose” at 9.35am on Sunday, September 20, in the 1000 block of Berkeley Street.

“Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who was deceased,” the department said. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner later identified him as Presley Gerber. He was pronounced dead at 9.45am.

Police said detectives are treating the case as a suspected overdose, but stressed that there is currently “no indication of foul play.”

The medical examiner has not yet determined the official cause or manner of death. That distinction matters: a suspected overdose is the focus of the investigation, not a final medical finding. The inquiry remains open.

TMZ reported that Gerber had been staying at a separate house on the grounds of a rehabilitation centre with roommates. Representatives for Gerber were approached for further comment.

Gerber had spoken publicly about addiction

In recent years, Gerber discussed his experiences with depression and drug addiction, saying he hoped that speaking openly might help other people. He had also reportedly been taking medication for night terrors and panic attacks.

During a 2023 appearance on the Studio 22 podcast, he described depression as a major part of his life and a “24/7 job.” He said he wanted to use his own experiences to support anyone facing similar problems.

“Whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” he said.

Gerber told listeners there should be “no judgement” for people struggling with something that was harming their body. He added: “I’ve seen a lot of stuff, and I’ve learned a lot of things. What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made.”

Helping others, he said, had become his ultimate goal.

His family publicly supported his recovery

Gerber’s family had openly encouraged his attempts to recover. In March 2026, he posted from a treatment centre in Mexico before undergoing what he described as a pre-ibogaine flood dose.

Ibogaine treatment remains controversial. Advocates claim it can interrupt chemical dependency and support neurological recovery, but those claims are disputed and the treatment can carry serious medical risks.

Gerber wrote that he was “terrified” before the procedure and added: “Praying it’s the last time I have to come back.”

Crawford, 60, replied: “You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!” Gerber answered: “love you mama!!!”

Kaia, 25, whose name her brother had tattooed on his arm, wrote: “that’s my brother I am so damn proud.”

Rande also praised his son’s determination: “I’m so proud of you and your courage. Facing what’s hard takes real strength and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.”

The messages offered a public glimpse of a closely connected family dealing with a long and difficult recovery process, one supportive Instagram comment at a time.

Kaia Gerber described a decade-long struggle

In an interview with Vogue published in August, Kaia spoke about her brother’s “decade-long struggle with drug addiction” and the effect it had on the whole family.

“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she said.

Kaia explained that she began seeing herself as “the easy one” and avoided asking for help because she felt her parents were already dealing with too much.

“Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing,” she said.

Gerber’s death came only weeks after those comments were published. His family has not released further details, and officials have given no timetable for the medical examiner’s findings.