Police say the model's death is a suspected overdose with no signs of foul play, but toxicology results and a final ruling from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner remain pending.
Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old model and only son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died on September 20, 2026, at a rehabilitation facility in the Santa Monica, California, area. Santa Monica police are investigating the death as a suspected overdose, according to a statement from the department, though the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has not yet established an official cause or manner of death, listing the case as "deferred" pending further testing.
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Presley Gerber had reportedly checked into luxury rehab home just hours before his death. Plus, sources tell TMZ a doctor was prescribing him ketamine. https://t.co/XwwGZI3Dhy
— ExtraTV (@extratv) September 22, 2026
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded at approximately 9:35 a.m. on September 20 to a report of a possible overdose in the 1000 block of Berkeley Street. Responding paramedics pronounced Gerber dead at approximately 9:45 a.m. Dispatch calls obtained by People magazine, as reported by Extra, indicate authorities were called regarding a reported cardiac arrest alongside the apparent overdose.
Police emphasized there was "no indication of foul play," while stressing that the detectives' overdose investigation remains open. Officials were careful to note that the medical examiner, not the police department, holds authority to determine the official cause and manner of death. USA Today reported that Gerber died at Resolutions Living, described in coverage as a sober-living home in the Los Angeles area, where he had reportedly been residing alongside other residents in recovery.
Autopsy Complete, but Official Cause Still Deferred
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the deceased as Presley Gerber and recorded the place of death as a rehabilitation facility. TMZ reported that the autopsy was completed shortly after his death, after which Gerber's body was listed as "ready for release" — an administrative status that does not, by itself, establish how he died. Us Weekly confirmed via records viewed Monday, September 21, that the cause of death had not been revealed even after the autopsy's completion.
The medical examiner's classification of "deferred" means toxicology or other postmortem studies remain outstanding before investigators can issue a determination. That distinction is critical: while multiple outlets, including the Hollywood Reporter and ABC News, have confirmed police are treating the case as a suspected overdose, no government authority has publicly confirmed which substance, if any, was involved.
Ketamine Allegations Emerge, Drawing Comparisons to Matthew Perry
Reports referencing ketamine surfaced after TMZ, citing unnamed sources, alleged on September 22 that Gerber had been receiving the drug from a physician despite a documented history of problems involving it. Those claims have not been confirmed by either the Santa Monica Police Department or the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Separately, a Times of India video report cited a media account claiming Gerber's parents were told a drug overdose caused his death, though it likewise noted the medical examiner had not yet confirmed a cause pending toxicology testing.
The unverified ketamine allegation has fueled comparisons to actor Matthew Perry, who died in October 2023 from what the Los Angeles County medical examiner officially determined were the acute effects of ketamine, ruled an accident. Perry's death triggered a federal investigation and criminal charges against several individuals, including doctors and an alleged drug supplier. TMZ's coverage of Gerber's case explicitly noted that Perry had also been prescribed ketamine for depression and anxiety, a parallel that has shaped public discussion even though authorities have drawn no official connection between the two cases.
A Public Battle With Addiction and an Ibogaine Treatment
Gerber had spoken publicly about addiction and mental-health struggles before his death. Page Six reported that earlier accounts described previous substance-use problems and psychiatric symptoms, with media citations referencing prescriptions including buprenorphine, ketamine and Xanax — the latter described as treatment for "really, really bad panic attacks" — along with medication for night terrors. The precise prescribing history, dosages, medical supervision and dates tied to those accounts were not established in official records.
Gerber had also reportedly undergone ibogaine treatment, an unconventional approach to addiction recovery, months before his death. In a personal post cited by the Times of India, he described being "absolutely terrified" ahead of the treatment. That disclosure indicates he was actively pursuing recovery options, but neither police nor the medical examiner has announced any link between the ibogaine treatment and his death.
Scrutiny Turns to Rehab Oversight as Toxicology Results Await
Gerber's death has intensified scrutiny of safety practices at residential rehabilitation and sober-living facilities, an angle USA Today highlighted in examining potential liability questions facing such homes. Reports describe Gerber living communally with other residents at the facility, but available official statements have not disclosed what substance, if any, was found on scene, whether staff administered emergency intervention, or whether any facility protocol was breached.
The facility's ownership, clinical licensing status and internal response procedures have not been publicly detailed in the reports reviewed. Investigators are expected to examine prescription records, toxicology findings, emergency-call recordings, facility surveillance and the treatment history of any prescribing physicians. Until the medical examiner completes additional testing, the confirmed account remains narrow: Gerber died at 27 at a Santa Monica-area rehabilitation facility, police suspect an overdose, there is no indication of foul play, and the cause of death remains officially deferred.
