Presley Gerber’s Family Is ‘in Total Shock’ After His Death at 27

Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Kaia Gerber are struggling to process the loss of Presley Gerber, with sources close to the family describing them as being in “total shock” following his death at 27.

Presley, the only son of Crawford and Rande Gerber, died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California. His family has asked for privacy as they mourn.

A Family Deeply Affected

A source close to Kaia Gerber told PEOPLE that the family was “saddened beyond words.”

Kaia, who has spoken openly about her brother’s struggles, was particularly proud of Presley for being willing to share his experiences publicly and use them to encourage others.

Presley had spent recent years speaking about mental health and substance-use struggles, often using his own experiences to encourage people to be more honest about challenges they might otherwise keep private.

Cindy and Rande Were Always There

Another source close to Cindy Crawford pushed back against any suggestion that Presley faced his struggles without support from his parents.

The source described Cindy and Rande as consistently involved in their son’s life and said they did everything they could to help him through difficult periods.

The family has long appeared close, supporting one another at public events and during important moments in their careers and personal lives.

In June, Cindy and Rande attended a mental-health-focused event with Presley in Malibu, where he spoke publicly about vulnerability and his own journey.

Presley Wanted to Help Others

Presley had built a modeling career after signing with IMG Models as a teenager, following in the footsteps of his mother and later his sister.

But in recent years, his public conversations about mental health became an increasingly important part of his story.

At the June event, he spoke about the freedom he felt after becoming more honest with himself and about the importance of vulnerability.

His family said they were proud of the way he had used difficult experiences to try to help other people.

A Family Asking for Privacy

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that an autopsy had been completed following Presley’s death, but his official cause of death remained deferred pending additional testing.

His family has made clear that they need privacy while navigating the loss.

For Cindy, Rande and Kaia, the grief is not about losing a public figure or model. It is about losing a son and brother who was deeply loved by the people closest to him.

As they begin to mourn, those around the family say they remain focused on remembering Presley for the person he was and the connections he made with the people who loved him.