Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber have spoken publicly for the first time since the death of their 27-year-old son, Presley Gerber, who died after suffering cardiac arrest at a Santa Monica rehabilitation facility.
Presley died on September 20 at Resolutions Living, with the death being treated as a suspected overdose. A toxicology report is expected to establish whether substances played a role.
Crawford shared a black-and-white photograph of her only son on Instagram alongside a statement issued by the family, including his sister Kaia, 25.
“Presley Walker Gerber July 2, 1999-September 20, 2026. We are beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother,” the statement said.
“We feel so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years. He is a sweet, beautiful soul who loved and is loved, now and forever. We are so proud of how he showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability.”
The family thanked those who had offered their support, including people who did not know them personally.
“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from so many who know and love our family and even strangers who feel our pain,” they said. “Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.”
Presley Gerber’s death followed stay at rehabilitation facility
Presley had entered Resolutions Living the day before he was found dead. Footage from the night before his death reportedly showed him giving a solo tour of the sober home.
Reports citing insiders claimed Presley had taken drugs earlier that day and that a sober coach had arranged for him to stay at the facility temporarily before a planned move to another rehabilitation centre. The claims have not been independently established in the material available.
An emergency dispatch call from the Santa Monica facility was reported to have initially referred to cardiac arrest before being upgraded to an overdose and then to a higher-priority call.
Presley’s remains were cremated days after his death, according to a death certificate, and his ashes are expected to be kept by Crawford and Gerber at their home.
The model, who followed his sister into the fashion industry, had previously spoken about a long-running struggle with drug addiction and mental health problems.
He said last November that he had stepped back from social media to “take care of my own mental health for a bit”. The following month, he began sharing videos about his mental health, including discussions of medication for night terrors and panic attacks.
Earlier this year, Presley wrote about undergoing a high-dose ibogaine treatment at a clinic in Mexico. His parents and sister responded by praising his courage.
Crawford wrote: “You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!” Kaia added: “That’s my brother I am so damn proud.”
In a separate message, Kaia said: “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.”
She had previously described the effect of her brother’s struggles on the family, saying: “When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone.”
