Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber are facing an intensely painful period following the death of their 27-year-old son, Presley Gerber, as the family prepares for a private memorial while continuing to mourn his sudden loss.

Presley died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

In the days since his death, new details have emerged about the efforts his parents made over the years to support him through struggles involving substance use and mental health.

FAMILY FOCUSED ON A PRIVATE MEMORIAL
According to People, sources close to the family say Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber are planning a small, intimate memorial for their son.

The family reportedly wants the gathering to remain private, away from media attention and paparazzi.

Sources described the planning process as emotionally difficult because the family is still processing Presley’s death while simultaneously making decisions about how to remember him.

The memorial could take place in Malibu, a location closely connected to Presley and his family.

Presley’s sister, Kaia Gerber, is also reportedly leaning on close friends and family during the difficult period.

PRESLEY HAD SPOKEN OPENLY ABOUT HIS STRUGGLES
Presley was not only known as the son of one of the world’s most recognizable supermodels.

He had also developed his own modeling career and, in later years, became increasingly open about his experiences with mental health and substance use.

In interviews and social media posts, Presley discussed depression, addiction and his attempts to find treatment.

During a 2023 podcast appearance, he explained that mental health had become a major part of his life and that he hoped his experiences could eventually help other people facing similar difficulties.

His family later spoke publicly about how seriously they had taken those struggles.

HIS PARENTS TRIED TO HELP HIM
People reported that Crawford and Gerber had spent years trying to help their son.

According to a source cited by the publication, the couple arranged different forms of treatment for Presley, including therapy, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and other approaches.

They reportedly hired sober coaches who stayed close to Presley for extended periods.

The family also encouraged him to pursue work and interests that gave him a sense of purpose, including modeling and photography.

The source said Presley experienced periods when he was doing significantly better, but his family had become increasingly concerned about him before his death.

KAIA GERBER HAD PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THE FAMILY’S EXPERIENCE
Before Presley’s death, Kaia had spoken about her brother’s long-running struggle with addiction.

In an interview with Vogue, she described how having a family member dealing with serious difficulties affected everyone around him.

She also said she was proud of Presley for being open about what he was experiencing.

Those comments have taken on new significance following his death because they provide a glimpse into how the family had been dealing with his struggles privately.

PRESLEY DIED AT A REHABILITATION FACILITY
Presley died at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica on September 20.

Santa Monica police said officers responded to a report of a possible overdose.

According to police, there was no indication of foul play at the time.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death were initially deferred pending additional testing.

That distinction remains important.

Although police investigated the death as a suspected overdose, an official final cause of death should not be described as confirmed until the medical examiner releases its determination.

POLICE ALSO LOOKED INTO THE POSSIBLE SOURCE OF DRUGS
Investigators reportedly examined where the substances involved may have come from.

The Los Angeles Times reported that detectives were attempting to determine the source of the drugs and who may have supplied them.

However, authorities had not publicly identified a supplier or announced criminal charges related to the source of any drugs.

The investigation therefore remained separate from the family’s memorial plans.

HIS FINAL YEARS WERE MARKED BY OPEN DISCUSSION OF RECOVERY
Presley had increasingly used his public platform to discuss his personal experiences.

He talked about mental health, depression and substance use, including his experiences with different treatment programs.

His approach was not simply to talk about his difficulties but also to encourage others to seek help.

In one podcast appearance, he said he hoped that sharing mistakes he had made could help other people avoid making similar mistakes themselves.

Those comments have become part of the way friends and family remember him.

A FAMILY NOW ASKING FOR PRIVACY
A representative for Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber previously asked for privacy following Presley’s death.

The request has continued as the family deals with funeral and memorial arrangements.

Presley’s death also came after years in which his family had largely kept the most difficult aspects of his struggles private.

The reported decision to hold a small memorial reflects that same desire for privacy.

PRESLEY’S CAREER
Presley followed his mother’s path into modeling.

He signed with IMG as a teenager and made his runway debut at 16.

He later worked with major fashion brands, including Calvin Klein and Celine.

He also appeared alongside his mother in a recreation of Crawford’s famous 1992 Pepsi commercial during the 2018 Super Bowl period.

But Presley eventually became increasingly interested in using his public profile to discuss mental health and addiction rather than simply focusing on modeling.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT HIS DEATH
Several facts have been established publicly:

Presley Gerber was 27.
He died on September 20, 2026.
He died at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica police investigated the death as a suspected overdose.
Police said there was no indication of foul play.
An autopsy was performed.
The medical examiner initially deferred the cause and manner pending additional testing.
What has not been officially established publicly is the final medical cause of death.

That distinction matters because reports describing the death as an overdose have referred to the police investigation rather than a final medical-examiner determination.

LATEST UPDATE — OCTOBER 1, 2026
As of October 1, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber are reportedly preparing a private and intimate memorial for Presley while the family continues to grieve.

New reporting has also detailed the extensive efforts his parents reportedly made to support him through years of substance-use struggles.

Presley’s death remains under investigation, and the official cause of death has not been publicly finalized.

For a family that spent years trying to support their son, the focus now appears to be on remembering Presley privately — while his story continues to draw attention to the struggles he had openly discussed during his lifetime.

SOURCES
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner