Supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber, have spoken publicly for the first time following the death of their son, Presley Gerber, expressing their heartbreak in a joint social media tribute.
Presley died on September 20, 2026, after suffering cardiac arrest at Resolutions Living, a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica. His death was reported as a suspected overdose, although the final findings are still pending.
In an Instagram post, Crawford and Gerber shared a black-and-white photograph of their son alongside a message remembering his life and expressing gratitude for the support they have received.
“We are beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother. We feel so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years,” they wrote.
The statement described Presley as a “sweet, beautiful soul” who was loved by his family and would remain so forever. His parents also praised the kindness and vulnerability he showed throughout his life.
They thanked relatives, friends and members of the public who had offered condolences, closing the tribute with the words: “Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.”
Presley was the son of Crawford and Gerber, and the older brother of their daughter, Kaia Gerber, 25.
Presley Had Entered a Santa Monica Facility Before His Death
Presley reportedly checked into Resolutions Living on September 19, the day before he was found dead.
Footage obtained by TMZ from the evening before his death showed the model giving a solo tour of the sober living residence. The video, reportedly recorded at about 10pm, showed him wearing a white undershirt, black eyeglasses and a silver chain necklace.
The footage showed Presley moving the camera around a bedroom and other areas of the property while appearing to be alone. The report described him as appearing to be under the influence.
Sources cited by TMZ alleged that Presley had used drugs on the Saturday afternoon and became concerned that he was losing control.
According to the report, his sober coach contacted the facility to ask whether Presley could be admitted temporarily, informing an admissions officer that he had taken drugs. The officer reportedly agreed to the arrangement.
The coach had allegedly intended to take Presley to a rehabilitation centre the following Monday but needed somewhere for him to stay over the weekend. Sources further claimed that Presley continued using drugs while at the sober living residence.
These accounts have not established the substances involved in his death.
Emergency Dispatch Audio Referenced Cardiac Arrest and Overdose
The Daily Mail previously reported obtaining audio of the emergency dispatch call made from the Santa Monica facility on the morning Presley died.
An automated voice in the recording reportedly referred to “cardiac arrest” before the incident was described as an “overdose.”
According to the report, the first call was made at 9.35am on September 20. Three minutes later, the classification was changed to an overdose, and the priority was upgraded again at 9.40am.
The final cause of death has yet to be confirmed. A determination of whether particular substances contributed to the incident is expected to depend on the medical examiner’s toxicology report.
Presley’s remains were reportedly cremated several days after his death at Rose Family Funeral Home, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. Reports said his parents planned to keep his ashes at their home.
Model Had Spoken Openly About Addiction and Mental Health
Presley began modelling at a young age, following a path similar to that of his sister. He had also spoken publicly about struggling with drug addiction and mental health challenges for approximately a decade.
In November 2025, he told followers that he was stepping back from social media for a period to focus on his mental health.
The following month, he shared a candid video about his personal life and began posting a series of videos called “Mental Health Mondays” on Instagram.
In one of the videos, Presley discussed medication he took for night terrors and panic attacks. He said his medication use had fluctuated depending on what was happening in his life.
Earlier in 2026, he also posted about undergoing a “Pre-ibogaine flood dose” at a treatment clinic in Mexico. Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance, and the treatment was described in his post as part of his efforts to address his difficulties.
His family publicly supported him following the announcement. Crawford called him a warrior and said she was proud of him, while Kaia praised his courage and the strength it took to confront difficult experiences.
“You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!” Crawford wrote.
Kaia also expressed her admiration for her brother, saying she was proud of his efforts and loved him deeply.
Kaia Gerber Mourns the Loss of Her Brother
Presley’s death came weeks after Kaia discussed the effect her brother’s struggles had had on their family in an interview with Vogue.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she said.
A source cited in the report said Kaia was still struggling with her brother’s death, describing the siblings as extremely close.
The source also said Kaia had faced difficulties during her 25 years but was a strong person who would persevere.
The Daily Mail said it had contacted representatives for Kaia and Crawford for comment.
Anyone experiencing mental health difficulties, emotional distress or concerns about alcohol or drug use can seek support through appropriate local services. In the United States, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988, or through 988lifeline.org.
