Presley Gerber, the eldest child of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber and older brother of Kaia Gerber, died on September 20, 2026, at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, TMZ reported. He was 27. Nearly a month later, his parents and sister have shared their first public tributes, and the official cause of death has still not been released.
What happened
According to TMZ, Presley was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. on September 20 by responding paramedics, a detail confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The Hollywood Reporter reported that he died one day after entering the Resolutions Living facility in Santa Monica. Staff found him unresponsive that morning.
CNN reported that the Santa Monica Police Department responded at 9:35 a.m. to a report of a possible overdose. The department later stated it is investigating the death as “a suspected overdose” with no indication of foul play.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner completed an autopsy but deferred the official cause of death pending further testing, according to TMZ. In a statement dated September 21, the medical examiner’s office said, “The investigation is still ongoing and there is limited information available.” As of October 18, The Hollywood Reporter noted the cause of death had not been disclosed.
Crawford’s publicist confirmed the death to CNN on September 20. A representative for Crawford, Rande Gerber, and Kaia Gerber also confirmed the news to TMZ and said, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
The family’s joint statement
On October 18, Cindy Crawford posted a joint family tribute on her Instagram, signed by herself, Rande, and Kaia, Variety reported.
“We are beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother,” the statement read. “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.”
The message continued: “We are so proud of how he showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability. Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever, Mom, Dad and Kaia.”
It was the first public statement from the family since the representative’s initial confirmation in September.
Kaia’s letter to her brother
The same day, Kaia Gerber posted a lengthy tribute letter to Presley on her own Instagram, according to Rolling Stone. It marked her first public words since his death.
Written in lowercase, the letter was raw and personal. “i am, quite literally, down on my f***ing knees,” she wrote, per Just Jared.
She also wrote about what being his sister meant to her. “you know how much i loved being your sister,” she said, according to Just Jared. “it has always been, and will forever be, my favorite thing about myself.”
TMZ reported that Kaia reflected on their birth order and the role Presley played as the elder sibling. “you always went first … and i really f***ing wish you hadn’t gone first this time,” she wrote.
The letter closed with a line that has been widely shared since. “i was born loving you. i will die loving you.”
Rande Gerber’s tributes
Rande Gerber shared two personal tributes to his son on his Instagram Stories on October 18, Just Jared reported.
The first was a repost of a childhood video showing Presley and Kaia together. Alongside it, Rande wrote, “My life my world my heart. A moment that will live in me forever.”
He then reposted Kaia’s tribute letter, adding the caption, “My beautiful girl to my beautiful boy.”
Who Presley Gerber was
Presley Walker Gerber was born July 2, 1999, according to Variety. He was the first child of Crawford, one of the most recognizable supermodels of her generation, and Gerber, a businessman. Kaia, now a model and actress, followed in 2001.
Presley entered the fashion world young. He signed with IMG Models at 15 and went on to work with brands including Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Calvin Klein. In the years before his death, he had been publicly open about his struggles with mental health, depression, and substance abuse.
For now, the family has asked for privacy, and the medical examiner’s investigation remains open. The tributes shared on October 18 stand as the family’s own account of who Presley was: a son and brother they described as kind, vulnerable, and loved.
