Cindy Crawford and her family have shared an emotional public tribute to Presley Gerber, nearly one month after the 27-year-old model died at a Santa Monica rehab facility on September 20, 2026. The family expressed profound grief and gratitude for support, while officials investigate his sudden passing as a suspected overdose.
Updated October 19, 2026
Nearly a month after the sudden passing of Presley Gerber at the age of 27, supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband, businessman Rande Gerber, have broken their public silence. Sharing an intimate black-and-white portrait of their son adorned with angel wings, the family posted a joint statement on Instagram to honor his memory and the life he built during his 27 years.
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. He is a sweet, beautiful soul who loved and is loved, now and forever. We are so proud of how he showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability.
Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, and Kaia Gerber.
The tribute also conveyed appreciation for the widespread backing the family has received since the tragedy. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from so many who know and love our family and even strangers who feel our pain,
the family wrote, concluding with a poignant farewell signed by his parents and younger sister, actress and model Kaia Gerber: Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.
Investigation Into the Santa Monica Facility Death and Autopsy Status
Presley Gerber passed away on September 20, 2026, just one day after checking into a luxury rehab center located in Santa Monica, California. According to records from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, emergency responders and law enforcement arrived at the facility following a morning dispatch.
Officers from the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a report of a possible overdose at approximately 9:35 a.m., where they located an adult male who was deceased. Authorities confirmed that detectives are investigating the incident as a suspected overdose, noting that there is no initial indication of foul play.
While an autopsy was completed, the official cause and manner of death have been listed as deferred. The medical examiner’s office stated that deferred cases can take a few months before a cause of death is determined.
Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Kaia Gerber took to social media to remember their son and brother Presley Gerber. “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. He is a sweet, beautiful soul… pic.twitter.com/MtVRRr58EP
— https://x.com/Variety/status/2111887537794953325
Kaia Gerber and Friends Share Heartfelt Tributes on Social Media
Alongside her mother’s statement, 25-year-old Kaia Gerber shared a deeply personal tribute on Instagram. You know how much I loved being your sister,
Kaia wrote. It has always been, and will forever be, my favorite thing about myself. I came into this world with a white-knuckle grip around you.
Friends and public figures also offered public condolences following the news. Socialite Paris Hilton shared her grief on social media, writing that she was completely heartbroken and describing him as ‘a beautiful soul’.
A Modeling Career and Open Struggles With Mental Health
Born on July 2, 1999, Presley Walker Gerber grew up in the public eye alongside his parents and his sister Kaia. Following in his mother’s footsteps, Presley signed with IMG Models at the age of 15 and established his own footprint in the fashion industry.
His runway debut came for Moschino when he was 16 years old. He walked for major houses including Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, and Ralph Lauren, as well as appearing alongside his mother in a 2018 Super Bowl commercial for Pepsi.
Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber, have spoken out after their son Presley’s death at 27. (📸: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)https://t.co/aQOTHLpjxt pic.twitter.com/tNJPU6alXr
— https://x.com/usweekly/status/2111880038161256768
Despite early commercial success, Presley faced personal challenges, including struggles with anxiety, depression, and addiction. In January 2019, he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Beverly Hills, subsequently receiving three years of probation, a DUI program, and community service. In November 2024, he launched an Instagram series titled Mental Health Mondays
intended to spark real conversations about the stuff most people hide.
In interviews, including a 2023 appearance on the "Studio 22" podcast, Presley expressed a desire to help others get through similar hardships. His family intends to carry forward that mission of mental health awareness.
Update (October 19, 2026)
According to CBS News, none of Presley Gerber's family members had publicly spoken about his death until Sunday, when his parents shared the message on their Instagram accounts alongside Kaia Gerber's separate post. Kaia's caption included the words, "I love you the bluest, to the moon and back and back again, forever big brother," and detailed her struggles with emptiness. She wrote that loving him required no effort, noting, "I was born loving you. I will die loving you. There was never anything else." She added that she is learning how to love him when she cannot see him, how to speak to him without using the phone, and how to remain his sister in a world where she cannot reach him.
