Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber reportedly spent years trying to help their son, Presley Gerber, as he struggled with addiction before his death at age 27.
New sources are shedding light on the lengths the couple went to support their eldest child, who died on September 20 at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California.
© VarietyAccording to a source who spoke to People, Cindy and Rande “tried everything possible” to help Presley. The source said the couple spent “years” seeking different forms of treatment for their son, including therapy, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and “so many types of homeopathic therapies.”
Their efforts reportedly went beyond treatment programs. Cindy and Rande “hired more than one sober coach,” according to the source, who said the coaches were with Presley “almost always.”
© Steve GranitzThe parents also continued encouraging their son to pursue interests that gave him a sense of direction. The source said they would “guide” Presley toward “working as a model, photographer, anything he was excited about; they would support him.”
His family reportedly ‘never gave up on him’
Presley had experienced periods of sobriety amid his struggles. One source told the outlet that Presley was sober for a period during the winter and that “his family was thrilled.”
© Samir HusseinHowever, the source claimed that his struggles had intensified over the past year. A second source close to Cindy told People that Presley had periods when he was doing well, but had been struggling more recently.
Following his death, the family is reportedly grappling with questions about whether anything more could have been done. “They're asking themselves what else they could have done,” the source told the outlet. “It's heartbreaking, because they never gave up on him.”
© Rodin EckenrothPresley himself had become increasingly candid about his experiences with addiction and mental health in the years leading up to his death. In 2023, he spoke about his struggles with depression during an appearance on the “Studio 22” podcast, explaining that he hoped sharing his experiences could help others going through similar situations.
“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that's all I need to do,” he said.
© @presleygerberHe described taking care of his mental health as a “24/7 job” and said he hoped others could learn from some of the mistakes he had made.
Cindy and Rande supported Presley at his final public appearance:
Cindy and Rande were by their son's side during what would become his final public appearance.
© WWD via Getty ImagesOn June 11, the couple joined Presley at the We Are ENOUGH x Aviator Nation launch event in Malibu, which benefited mental health organizations. Presley participated in a panel discussion about his own mental health journey, while his parents attended in support.
During the conversation, Presley reflected on the importance of vulnerability and being truthful about what he was experiencing. “The most free I felt was when I was finally honest with myself,” he told the audience.
© Alexander TamargoHe also encouraged people struggling through difficult days to get outside and move their bodies. The appearance came amid a period in which Presley was publicly sharing more about his experiences with addiction and treatment.
In March, he revealed that he had traveled to Mexico to undergo ibogaine treatment for addiction. Sharing his experience on social media, Presley said he had been “absolutely terrified” but ultimately confronted what he had been avoiding.
© Matt Winkelmeyer“I knew why I was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, I started finding my way back to myself,” he wrote.
Presley's death remains under investigation:
Presley died on Sunday, September 20, at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica.
The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the facility at approximately 9:35 a.m. following a report of a possible overdose. Presley was pronounced dead by responding paramedics at 9:45 a.m.
© Hollywood To You/Star MaxPolice are investigating his death as a suspected overdose and have said there is currently no indication of foul play.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner performed an examination on September 21 but deferred Presley's official cause and manner of death while additional testing is conducted. The department has said deferred cases can take several months to complete.
© Cindy Crawford/IGAccording to the Los Angeles Times, Presley had entered the Santa Monica facility only hours before his death. The outlet also reports that investigators are looking into the possible source of drugs as part of the ongoing investigation.
Following Presley's death, a representative for Cindy, Rande and their daughter, Kaia Gerber, asked for privacy on behalf of the family. “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” the representative said.
