Presley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford, died from apparent overdose

Presley Gerber 's death is being investigated as a suspected overdose , according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

The son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber died Sunday, Sept. 20, at the age of 27 at a rehab facility in the Los Angeles area. The SMPD announced in a press release issued Monday, Sept. 21, that it appeared to be the result of an overdose and there is no indication of foul play.

Additionally, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner completed an autopsy of Gerber's body Sept. 21, and the case has been deferred pending additional investigation, according to records viewed by USA TODAY.

A representative for Crawford and Rande Gerber previously confirmed their only son's death in a statement to USA TODAY: "The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time."

Cindy Crawford's son dies at 27. Look back at the famous family

Supermodel Cindy Crawford shares two children, Kaia and Presley , with husband Rande Gerber. Revisit the famous family in photos amid news of son Presley Gerber's death at age 27.

Presley Gerber spoke out about addiction, mental health

In recent years, the model had been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health. He even started a series on his social media talking about parts of his treatment and journey to recovery.

Gerber was the eldest child of Crawford and Rande Gerber, who have been married since 1998. They are also parents to model and actress Kaia Gerber , 25.

Crawford rose to fame as a supermodel in the 1980s and later launched a career in television and business. Rande Gerber is a hospitality entrepreneur known for his nightlife companies Midnight Oil and Gerber Group, as well as Gerber Spirits and the popular tequila brand Casamigos , which he cofounded with George Clooney.

Presley Gerber followed in his mother's footsteps and pursued modeling, landing major campaigns for brands like Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana. In 2018, he and Crawford starred in a Pepsi commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.

The family has been outspoken about their support for Gerber's recovery. In an August Vogue interview, Kaia Gerber opened up about her brother's addiction and praised him for using his public platform to bring awareness to the matter.

"When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone," she said. "I think that's also why I started to self-​identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing."

Gerber first discussed his depression, addiction and recovery during a 2023 appearance on the "Studio 22" podcast and later launched a "Mental Health Mondays" series on his social media, where he openly discussed his experiences.

Presley Gerber dies at 27. Revisit his modeling career

In March, he shared an Instagram post about undergoing an ibogaine treatment for addiction in Mexico. "Quiet moment before everything changed," he wrote in the caption, alongside a video of him before receiving the medication.

A Schedule I controlled psychoactive substance used to treat mental health problems and substance use disorders, ibogaine is not classified as a legal treatment in the United States and is banned in some countries due to its high risk for misuse. Among its several serious side effects are seizures, heart effects and dangerous behavior, according to WebMD .

"I was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this (helps to not go into the situations you do that get ya there but that's life sometimes.)," Gerber wrote in the Instagram post. "My mantras were love yourself and [it's] gotta be the last time for this reason. letting go of control didn't come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it. I knew why i was there."

He concluded: "I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, i started finding my way back to myself 🤍…. We shall see…. Praying it's the last time I have to come back. Next time I'd like to choose 😜 🙏🏻"

He made his final public appearance months later at the We Are Enough x Aviator Nation launch event in Malibu, California, on June 11, where he participated in a panel about his experiences with mental health challenges.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889) .

Contributing: Sameen Chaudhry, USA TODAY