Presley Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, died Sunday at 27 in a suspected overdose. Now, a forensic expert shares an eerie theory about what could’ve happened before he died.
Presley Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, as well as brother to model Kaia Gerber, was found dead at the Resolutions Living rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday. He was only 27 years old.
Presley Gerber had reportedly battled substance abuse for nearly a decade. Before his death, he had also been open about his struggles with mental health and addiction.
He spoke publicly about his substance abuse and shared parts of his journey on social media. The son of Cindy Crawford even turned to the controversial substance ibogaine in an attempt to break free from it.
On Monday, the Santa Monica Police Department released two separate statements on Gerber’s death. Officials are investigating Gerber’s death as a suspected overdose.
“Death was pronounced at 09:45 hours on September 20, 2026, by responding paramedics. The Santa Monica Police Department is the investigating law enforcement agency,” it read.
The autopsy was completed on Monday. In a separate statement issued shortly afterward, the Medical Examiner’s Office said it was still in the “early stages” of investigating Presley’s death, adding that “limited information is currently available.”
Forensic expert shares eerie theory about Presley Gerber’s death
Cindy Crawford, her husband Rande and daughter Kaia released a short statement on Sunday, asking for privacy. There are still many questions surrounding the 27-year-old’s death, whose body was released on Tuesday after authorities finished their autopsy.
Forensic analyst Joseph Scott Morgan has given his thoughts about the investigation into Presley Gerber’s death and shared an eerie theory. What really went on inside the facility?
Morgan, who has handled several cases involving suspected overdoses at rehabilitation centers, spoke to News Nation, saying that those types of investigations can become “very, very complex very quickly.”
“I think my big question, being that this is a rehab center, is: Was he checked? Were any of his visitors checked? Did anybody bring anything in at all?” Morgan asked.
The forensic expert explained that the medical examiner is expected to conduct a broad toxicology screening, which can detect a wide range of substances, from synthetic drugs to even something as common as aspirin.
“Every death is suspicious”
But according to Morgan, investigators will look at more than whether a substance was present. The amount found in Gerber’s system could matter just as much.
Questions have also been raised over why officers from the Santa Monica Police Department responded to the rehabilitation center after the 911 call. However, Morgan said their response should not come as a surprise.
“This is a young man who should not be deceased. They’re going to respond to this,” he said.
The forensic analyst added that investigators generally have to approach a death with an open mind until they know exactly what happened.
“Our working assumption in any death investigation is that every death is suspicious. You have to work from that perspective in order to arrive at a thorough finding at the end,” Joseph Scott Morgan told News Nation.
Rest in peace, Presley Gerber.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.