Presley Gerber Autopsy Update: Cindy Crawford's Son Reportedly Suffered a Cardiac Arrest at Age 27

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has deferred determining the cause and manner of death of model Presley Gerber, Cindy Crawford's 27-year-old son, after he died at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday, 20 September 2026.

The department said a deputy medical examiner performed an examination on 21 September, but additional testing and/or studies are still required.

The update matters because dispatch reports referenced a possible overdose and cardiac arrest, while Santa Monica police said detectives were investigating the death as a suspected overdose.

Neither has been established as the official cause of death. The medical examiner's records leave the cause and manner of death unresolved while the investigation continues.

What the Presley Gerber Medical Examiner Update Confirms

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said it was in the 'early stages of investigating' Gerber's death and that 'limited information is currently available.' Its statement said a deputy medical examiner had performed an examination and that the cause and manner of death had been deferred.

'Deferred' does not identify what caused Gerber's death. The medical examiner said the determination was deferred because additional testing and/or studies were requested. The department said it could not disclose what testing or studies had been requested and warned that deferred cases can take a few months to resolve.

The office confirmed that Gerber was pronounced dead at 9:45am on 20 September by responding paramedics. It listed the Santa Monica Police Department as the investigating law enforcement agency and gave the case number 2026-14977.

The Santa Monica Police Department said officers responded at about 9:35am on 20 September to a report of a possible overdose in the 1000 block of Berkeley Street. Officers found an adult male who was deceased, according to police. Detectives are investigating the death as a suspected overdose, while police said there was no indication of foul play.

That distinction is important. A suspected overdose is an investigative line, not a medical finding. Santa Monica police said the official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Why Cardiac Arrest Is Not a Final Finding

Dispatch recordings obtained by reporters referenced a cardiac-arrest call at the address, with a subsequent dispatch referring to an overdose.

The medical examiner's deferral means readers should be wary of headlines that turn the dispatch information into a confirmed cause of death. The available records support saying that a cardiac-arrest call was dispatched during the emergency response. They do not establish cardiac arrest as the official cause of death.

Gerber was the son of model Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, and the brother of model and actor Kaia Gerber. A representative for the family said the family was 'asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.'

Before his death, Gerber spoke publicly about depression, addiction and his desire to help others facing similar struggles. During a February 2023 appearance on a podcast, he described mental health as 'a 24/7 job' and said he hoped his experiences could help other people.

In 2024, he launched 'Mental Health Mondays' on Instagram, a series focused on mental health, recovery and emotional wellbeing.

That background provides context, but it cannot answer the medical question now before investigators. Gerber's public discussions of addiction do not establish that an overdose caused his death, just as a dispatch reference to cardiac arrest does not establish its underlying cause.

For now, the official position remains limited to the facts released by authorities.

Presley Gerber died at 27, the medical examiner has completed an examination, the cause and manner of death remain deferred, and Santa Monica detectives are continuing to investigate. The county medical examiner said information will be updated online as it becomes available.