Presley Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on Sunday, Sept. 20, just one day after checking into a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. He was 27. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office confirmed the death occurred while Gerber was staying at Resolutions Living, a co-ed treatment center on Wilshire Boulevard that provides structure for residents recovering from mental health issues, addiction, and co-occurring disorders.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded to a report of a possible overdose at approximately 9:35 a.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, they located an adult male who was deceased. The department is investigating the death as a suspected overdose, and officials said there is no indication of foul play. Gerber's case remains open. The facility has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Gerber reportedly checked into the center on Saturday night and died Sunday morning. Representatives for Resolutions Living did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for the family told Fox News Digital, «The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.»
The deputy medical examiner told Fox News Digital that the investigation is still ongoing and limited information is available. «A deputy medical examiner performed an examination today and the cause and manner of death have been deferred, which means additional testing and/or studies were requested in order to make a determination,» the department said in a statement. Officials noted that deferred cases can take a few months before a cause of death is determined. Due to the ongoing investigation, the DME cannot disclose what testing was requested.
John J. Perlstein, a wrongful death and personal injury attorney, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about liability as the investigation continues. «I just don't assume what the cause of death is or that the facility failed them or the family... don't think the family wasn't doing everything they had to do,» Perlstein said. «It seems like, you know, in these situations the families do so much for the sick person, the person who was addicted.» He added, «By all accounts, they were a very loving, good family, and it's just real sad circumstance. It certainly caught a lot of people's attention.»
Nicholas Kardaris, Ph.D., CEO and chief clinical officer of the New York Center for Living in Manhattan and a clinical professor at Stony Brook Medicine's School of Social Welfare, also urged against drawing conclusions from the fact that Gerber died at a rehabilitation facility. Kardaris, who has not treated Gerber and is not connected to the case, noted that possible explanations could include an acute medical or cardiac event, an undiagnosed condition, or a medication-related complication. People in residential treatment facilities may have complex medical histories, and some conditions may not be immediately apparent when someone enters a program.
«Younger people can sometimes die suddenly, and we don't know whether they had an underlying medical issue,» Kardaris said. «It's not impossible to have a medication-related event, particularly if someone has an underlying heart disorder. Certain medications can trigger a cardiac episode.» He added, «People are in rehab because they're struggling with addiction. It doesn't mean they're cured of their addiction.»
Another potential risk during rehab is withdrawal itself, which can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening depending on the substance involved and the person's level of physical dependence. «People can die from withdrawal, but the substances that are most dangerous to withdraw from without proper medical supervision are benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax, and alcohol,» Kardaris said.
Resolutions Living describes itself on its website as drawing «on our years of experience in addiction and mental health support,» with «experienced staff has supported people with a wide variety of needs, from substance abuse and mental health, to trauma and eating disorders.» The center is described as a co-ed home that «provides the structure» for residents through intensive outpatient programs of their choosing. It remained unclear why Gerber entered the center or what treatment he was receiving.
Gerber's death has drawn attention from public figures, including Kid Rock, who called it a «tragedy.» An ex-girlfriend said he «deserved more time.» In the months before his death, Gerber had posted candidly about his struggles with addiction, saying he was «terrified» in a raw social media post.
The investigation into Gerber's death continues, with the medical examiner's office awaiting additional testing. Authorities have not released further details, and the case remains open as officials work to determine what led to the death of the 27-year-old model and son of one of the world's most famous supermodels.