Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old model and son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died on September 20, 2026, at a Santa Monica rehabilitation facility where he was staying. According to reporting from Page Six, dispatch audio from the call reportedly included the terms“cardiac arrest”and“overdose.”Santa Monica Police confirmed they responded to a possible overdose at 9:35 a.m. and found an unresponsive adult male, who was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m.
An autopsy was completed on September 21, but the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner deferred the cause and manner of death pending additional testing. That means a final determination could take months. The Gerber family released a statement asking for privacy during what they described as a very difficult and painful time, and Presley’s sister, model Kaia Gerber, is among those grieving publicly.
What many fans are reflecting on is how openly Presley discussed his own recovery. He shared details of his addiction and mental health journey, including various treatments, and used an Instagram series called“Mental Health Mondays”to reach people going through similar struggles. He once said that helping even one person get out of that place would be enough. As the investigation continues, the conversation around rehab safety and addiction care is only getting louder. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text.
What do you think needs to change about how we talk about addiction and treatment?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.