More details are emerging about the circumstances surrounding the death of Presley Gerber, who was found dead at the age of 27.
Sources familiar with the investigation told TMZ on Wednesday that Gerber was allegedly discovered in a bedroom at an upscale rehabilitation facility on Sunday, September 20.
The son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber had reportedly entered the facility the previous evening. He was found after suffering cardiac arrest. His parents were seen together on Monday, leaving their son’s home for the first time since his death.
According to the sources, Gerber’s body was not found on the bed but somewhere nearby in the room. They did not provide further details about the precise location.
The Daily Mail has contacted Gerber’s representatives for comment but has not received a response.
The sources also said fentanyl is not currently a central focus of the investigation into Gerber’s death.
Presley Gerber was found dead at 27 on Sunday, September 20, in a bedroom at the upscale Santa Monica rehabilitation facility where he had recently begun treatment, sources close to the investigation told TMZ on Wednesday; Above, in New York City in 2019
TMZ reported that Gerber’s body was discovered near the bed rather than on it. The sources did not disclose the exact location; Above, the rehabilitation facility is pictured on Monday, September 21
Any definitive finding about substances that may have contributed to his death will depend on the Medical Examiner’s toxicology report, which has not yet been released.
The Daily Mail previously obtained audio from the 911 dispatch call placed at the Santa Monica facility. An automated message in the recording initially referred to a “cardiac arrest” before later stating “overdose.”
The dispatch recording also appeared to show how quickly the emergency escalated, with Gerber’s condition prompting increasingly urgent classifications within minutes.
The first call was logged at 9:35 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, as a cardiac arrest. Three minutes later, the incident was reclassified as an “overdose,” and at 9:40 a.m. the priority was raised again as the call was marked “upgraded.”
After the dispatch audio became public, sources close to the model told TMZ on Tuesday that a doctor had allegedly prescribed Gerber ketamine despite being aware of his previous difficulties with the drug.
Ketamine is sometimes used in addiction treatment, although treating drug addiction is not an FDA-approved use for the medication.
Sources told TMZ that Gerber’s close friends were upset by the alleged prescription, saying the doctor knew addiction had been an ongoing issue for him.
Gerber’s death was announced on Sunday. He was the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber and had reportedly faced years of struggles involving drugs, panic attacks and his mental health.
Sources told TMZ that fentanyl is not currently a major focus of the investigation, though the Medical Examiner’s completed toxicology report will be needed to determine whether any substances played a role; Above, in New York City in 2018
The Daily Mail previously obtained audio of the 911 call from the Santa Monica rehabilitation facility, where an automated message referred first to “cardiac arrest” and then to an “overdose”; Above, in 2021
Following the release of the dispatch audio, sources close to Gerber told TMZ that a doctor had allegedly continued prescribing ketamine despite knowing about his history with the drug; Above, in Los Angeles in January
A spokesperson for the Santa Monica Police Department confirmed to The Daily Mail on Monday that emergency responders were called to the luxury rehabilitation facility where Gerber had been staying. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘On September 20, 2026, at approximately 9.35am, Santa Monica Police Department officers responded to a report of a possible overdose in the 1000 block of Berkeley Street. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who was deceased,’ the statement read.
‘SMPD detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose. At this time, there is no indication of foul play. The investigation remains ongoing.’
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not determined the official cause of death yet but the autopsy was completed as of Monday morning and Presley’s body was ready for release.
Per TMZ, Presley had been staying in a separate house on the grounds of the LA rehab, and had roommates. It was also claimed Presley had only checked into the rehab on Saturday night, hours before his death.
The model had been open about his decade-long struggle with drug addiction and mental health struggles.
Earlier this year, he posted about having a ‘Pre-ibogaine flood dose’ at a Mexican treatment clinic, a single, high-dose administration of the naturally occurring psychoactive substance ibogaine.
Ibogaine is derived from an African shrub and is reported to help with withdrawal symptoms. The high dose is designed to induce a profound ‘reset.’
Presley was the eldest child and only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber. Above, the three in March 2024 in Los Angeles
Presley, who embarked on a modeling career at 15, had been open about his decade-long struggles with depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Above, in January
Presley’s parents and his sister Kaia praised him for his ‘courage’ in response to his post about starting the treatment in March.
Crawford commented: ‘You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!’ while Kaia added: ‘That’s my brother I am so damn proud.’
And Rande wrote: ‘I’m so proud of you and your courage. Facing what’s hard takes real strength and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.’
Ibogaine is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the US, but it is legal or permitted on prescription in countries such as Canada and Brazil, while it is used in specialised clinics in Mexico.
Presley praised the Beond Ibogaine clinic in Cancun – where treatment starts at $12,500 for a ten-day programme – for its ‘incredible, caring, kind and on-their-s*** team.’
Presley said in a video caption: ‘I was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this (helps to not go into the situations you do that get ya there but that’s life sometimes.)
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‘My mantras were love yourself and lis gotta be the last time for this reason. letting go of control didn’t come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it.
Presley pictured during his controversial treatment in Mexico in March, which he said ‘absolutely terrified’ him as he attempted to overcome his addictions
‘I knew why i was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, i started finding my way back to myself… We shall see… Praying it’s the last time I have to come back.
‘Next time I’d like to choose And absolutely can’t forget the incredible caring kind and on-their-s*** team. Helps a lot haha. And I made some dope ass friends there #iboga #ibogaine #rewireyourbrain #loveyourself #mentalhealth.’
Beond Ibogaine commented on the post at the time, writing: ‘Thank you for sharing this so openly. We know how much courage that moment takes, and we’re really proud of you for facing it with so much honesty and heart. It was an honor to support you.’
Beond Ibogaine’s website states that ‘Ingesting a large enough dose induces a temporary psychedelic experience that can last several hours, normally with no significant side-effects.
‘For hundreds of years, indigenous African peoples… have ingested large doses of Ibogaine in its raw root bark form for its spiritual and healing properties.
‘Over the past 30 years, Ibogaine has been administered in various clinics around the world for medical treatment purposes, most often to treat drug dependence.’
Despite its ban, public figures including singer Melissa Etheridge, who lost her 21-year-old son Beckett to a fentanyl overdose in 2020, and Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband Lamar Odom have endorsed Ibogaine’s benefits.
Last November, Presley revealed he had taken a step back from social media to ‘take care of my own mental health for a bit.’
In March, Presley posted about his experience of undergoing a ‘Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose’ which is illegal in the US
At the time, his parents and his sister Kaia Gerber praised him for his ‘courage’ and ‘strength’ in trying to overcome his demons
In December, the media personality opened up about medication he is taking to aid in his struggles, which include ‘night terrors’ and ‘panic attacks’; Above, in 2018 in Paris
One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video. He started sharing ‘Mental Health Mondays’ videos on his Instagram. In one, he listed the medication he takes for ‘night terrors’ and ‘panic attacks.’
‘I feel like honesty is the best policy,’ he began.
He also said his use of medication had been ‘fluctuating up and down depending on what’s been going on in my life.’
‘Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I am where I’m at now,’ he shared.
He did not go into detail about the ‘loss’ he referenced but went on to explain that he would experience panic attacks that were ‘really, really bad.’
In one particularly bleak admission, he confessed he no longer even knew precisely how much of one medication he had been taking.
He acknowledged that navigating the advice he received from medical professionals could itself be frightening.
He noted in the Instagram reel that ‘doctors say a lot of different things so it’s kind of scary. But hopefully between my research and their research and the world and God, we can finally figure this out.’
Rande Gerber, Cindy Crawford, Kaia Gerber and Presley Gerber are seen together in London in 2018
The siblings are seen alongside their mom, Cindy Crawford, in August 2007
Presley Gerber and Kaia Gerber watching the LA Lakers in February 2024
The tragedy cuts short the life of a model who had seemingly been destined to follow his famous mother into fashion from an early age.
Presley started modeling at age 15 and was featured in campaigns for fashion labels such as Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein.
Presley was signed to IMG Models and appeared in a 2018 Pepsi ad with his mother.
He also struggled with mental health at a young age and was arrested for driving under the influence in 2019.
His death comes just weeks after his younger sister Kaia Gerber, 25, opened up about the enormous toll her brother’s struggles had taken on their famous family – admitting the turmoil had effectively ‘leveled everyone.’
‘When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,’ she told Vogue.
Kaia praised her brother’s willingness to strip away the secrecy surrounding his struggles.
She described his honesty and openness as ‘refreshing,’ contrasting it with the intensely private way their parents had traditionally handled family life.
‘My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything – and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, ‘I’m gonna be very human for everyone.’ There’s only so much you can hide from the world,’ she said.
‘And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them,’ she noted.
