Full Breakdown
Presley Gerber’s Death Highlights Overdose Risks in Rehab Facilities
By Drooid · · How we work
Fatal Incident at a Los Angeles Rehab Center
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber, was found unresponsive at a Los Angeles-area rehabilitation facility on September 20, 2026. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 09:45 a.m. after Santa Monica Police arrived at the 1000-block of Berkeley Street around 9:35 a.m. responding to a dispatch that cited both “cardiac arrest” and a “possible overdose.” The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner (DME) has deferred a determination of cause and manner of death pending additional testing; the investigation remains open with no indication of foul play.
Background & Context
Gerber entered modeling as a teenager, signing with IMG Models at 15 and later walking for major brands. He had spoken publicly about depression, anxiety and a long-standing opioid and benzodiazepine dependence. In December 2025 he posted a video describing his use of prescription depressants—including buprenorphine, Xanax and Valium—to manage panic attacks. In March 2026 he traveled to Mexico for an experimental ibogaine treatment, calling it a “flood dose” intended to reset his brain. His sister, Kaia Gerber, has emphasized his openness about addiction in interviews.
Data & Statistics
- Age at death: 27
- Time of emergency call: 9:35 a.m. (cardiac arrest & overdose)
- Time of pronouncement: 09:45 a.m.
- Facility: Resolutions Living, a $7.7 million luxury outpatient rehab center offering partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.
- Attorney John J. Perlstein notes that overdose deaths “occur quite often” in treatment centers where multiple individuals with substance-use histories reside.
Official Statements & Responses
- Santa Monica Police Department: The death is being investigated as a “suspected overdose” with “no indication of foul play.”
- Los Angeles County DME: The examination was performed, but the cause and manner of death have been “deferred,” meaning additional testing is required and results may take several months.
On-the-Ground Reports
Audio obtained by People and Page Six shows first-responder dispatches first labeling the incident a cardiac arrest, followed shortly by a separate call identifying an overdose. Police officers found Gerber unresponsive; paramedics attempted resuscitation before declaring death at 09:45 a.m.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Cause of death: The DME has not released a definitive cause; the case is “deferred.”
- Nature of the event: Police describe it as a suspected overdose, while dispatch audio also references cardiac arrest.
- Toxicology: No results have been published; the specific substance(s) involved remain unknown.
- Facility role: No official findings on whether medication, illicit drugs, or withdrawal complications contributed to the fatal outcome.
What’s Next
The Los Angeles County DME will continue additional testing before issuing a final cause-of-death report, a process that can take several months. Law enforcement is pursuing the source of the suspected overdose, and civil-rights attorneys have signaled potential litigation regarding facility liability. The family has reiterated its request for privacy while the investigation proceeds.