Presley Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, passed away on Sunday, September 20, at the age of 27.Gerber reportedly breathed his last at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. While the cause of death was not revealed at the time of the death announcement on Monday, the circumstances surrounding his death are now under investigation.As per the latest reports on TMZ, People and Page Six, the Santa Monica Police Department is investigating Gerber’s death as a suspected overdose, while stressing that there is currently ‘no indication of foul play’. The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.The Medical Examiner told PEOPLE that death was pronounced at 9:45 a.m. on September 20 by responding paramedics. “The investigation is still ongoing and there is limited information available,” the Medical Examiner said.An autopsy has since been completed, TMZ reports, but the official cause and manner of death have been ‘deferred’ while additional testing and studies are carried out. According to the Medical Examiner, the results could take additional time, and authorities have not officially linked Gerber’s death to any particular substance.
Police investigate suspected overdose
According to dispatch recordings obtained by PEOPLE, Santa Monica police received a call at approximately 9:35 a.m. on September 20 reporting a cardiac arrest in the 1000 block of Berkeley Street. A subsequent dispatch indicated that first responders were responding to an overdose at the same address.Page Six also reported that the 911 dispatch recording could be heard saying the words “cardiac arrest” and “overdose”. A source at the scene told the publication that police, ambulance crews and firefighters responded and remained at the location for around three hours.Sources cited by TMZ said Gerber had been living in a luxury rehabilitation facility with several other people and that the initial belief was that he had suffered an overdose.
Presley Gerber reportedly sought treatment days before his death
Page Six reported that Gerber had been staying in a sober house on the grounds of the Los Angeles-area rehabilitation centre. A source told the publication that he had checked himself into a Santa Monica facility shortly before his death because “he knew he needed help.”“He had not been doing well,” the source said, claiming that Gerber had struggled with self-esteem and accepting himself. “Energetically, he didn’t seem like himself,” the insider added, saying Presley “felt like he was lacking purpose in his life”.The source further claimed that although Gerber was “struggling with a lot of things”, he “wanted so, so badly to be free of his addictions.”TMZ subsequently reported that Gerber had entered the Santa Monica facility on Saturday night, just hours before he was found unresponsive the following morning. The facility reportedly housed several residents dealing with substance-abuse, mental-health and other issues.
Family asks for privacy
A representative for Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Presley’s younger sister, model and actress Kaia Gerber, said in a statement, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”Presley followed his mother into modelling and began his career as a teenager. In recent years, he had spoken openly about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse, including his efforts to seek treatment and recovery.Gerber had also used his social media platforms to discuss mental health and recovery, including his “Mental Health Mondays” videos, in an effort to encourage others to speak openly about their struggles.
