Presley Gerber’s death investigated as suspected overdose
Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, died of a suspected overdose at the age of 27 at a rehab facility in the Los Angeles area.
Authorities continue to investigate the death of Cindy Crawford’s son, Presley Gerber, after the model died at a rehab facility in Malibu, California, on Sept. 20.
Gerber, Crawford’s only son with businessman Rande Gerber and the brother of model-actress Kaia Gerber, died of a suspected overdose with no indications of foul play, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. He was 27.
A representative for Crawford and Rande Gerber also confirmed their son’s death in a statement to USA TODAY: “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
Gerber was open about his yearslong struggle with addiction and his recovery. He launched the social media series “Mental Health Mondays” intended to encourage candid conversations and documented parts of his treatment journey, which have received renewed attention amid his death.
Now, as authorities investigate what led to his apparent overdose, here’s what we know so far.
Presley Gerber cause of death: Model died from apparent overdose
According to recordings obtained by People and Page Six, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Berkeley Street in Santa Monica, California, at 9:35 a.m. on Sept. 20 for a cardiac arrest; a separate dispatch indicated first responders were responding to an overdose at the address.
Gerber was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m., according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
Presley Gerber died at Resolutions Living rehab. Could it be held responsible?
Presley Gerber’s death while in rehab raises questions about when a treatment facility can be held liable for an overdose death. On its website, Resolutions Living sober living home in the Los Angeles area says it is “a leader in addiction and mental health support,” offering a program “designed for [patients’] unique needs and individual recovery plans.”
John J. Perlstein, a wrongful death attorney based in Southern California, told USA TODAY that overdose deaths unfortunately occur “quite often” at treatment centers. But he said a rehab center’s liability depends on several factors, including the types of services being offered or the level of care.
If a facility fails “to complete a duty or fall through on a duty” as promised, such as not having enough security or monitoring of patients or residents, it could be found negligent, Perlstein says.
Presley Gerber underwent controversial ibogaine treatment
In one of Gerber’s last Instagram posts, Gerber tried ibogaine treatment for his addiction and wrote about confronting what he had been avoiding. “Quite moment before everything changed,” he wrote in March. “i was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this.”
He added, “We shall see …. Praying it’s the last time I have to come back. Next time I’d like to choose.”
Ibogaine is a Schedule I controlled psychoactive substance used to treat mental health problems and substance use disorders, but it is not classified as a legal treatment in the United States and is banned in some countries due to its high risk for misuse. It has several serious side effects, including seizures, heart effects and dangerous behavior, according to WebMD.
In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the government to accelerate research into psychedelic treatments – including ibogaine – after lobbying from figures including podcaster Joe Rogan. Within days, the Food and Drug Administration began its first U.S.-based trials of an ibogaine-derived drug, while several states passed legislation funding ibogaine trials within the past few years, including Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee.