New details have emerged after Preston Gerber‘s death at age 27.
The Santa Monica Police Department tells Us that officers responded to a call regarding a possible overdose at 9:35 am local time on Sunday, September 20. Authorities found an unresponsive adult male at the scene.
“The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has identified the individual as Presley Gerber, 27,” the statement continues. “SMPD detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. At this time, there is no indication of foul play. The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.”
Police emphasize that “the investigation remains ongoing.”
An official cause of death has yet to be revealed, but an autopsy is expected to be completed on Monday, September 21.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released its own statement on Monday, confirming, “The investigation is still ongoing and there is limited information available. Death was pronounced at 09:45 hours on September 20, 2026, by responding paramedics. The Santa Monica Police Department is the investigating law enforcement agency.”
News broke on Sunday that the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber had died, with his family noting in a statement to Us, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
Presley was in a rehab facility when he died. The model was candid about his battle with substance abuse and other mental health challenges through the years before his sudden death.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do,” he said during a 2023 appearance on the “Studio 22” podcast.
Presley added: “It’s a huge part of my life. It’s a 24/7 job and there’s so much to it. That’s what I really want to do — help people get out of whether you’re depressed [or] struggling with something that’s having a negative effect on your body. … What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made.”
In a recent interview with Vogue, Presley’s sister, Kaia Gerber, discussed how dynamics shifted in their household amid her brother’s struggles.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” she said last month. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
