Cindy Crawford is “beyond gutted” following the death of her son Presley Gerber, 27, sources close to the family say.
The supermodel, 58, is struggling to process the loss of her only son, who died of a reported drug overdose on Sept. 20 at a rehab facility in Santa Monica, California. According to one source, the mother and son shared a bond that ran far deeper than their public appearances suggested.
“They were so close,” the source said. “What you saw online and in the press wasn’t just for that purpose. They were a tight-knit family and [sister] Kaia and Presley were more than just siblings. Cindy has to be beyond gutted.”
A second source painted an even bleaker picture of Crawford’s state in the immediate aftermath. “Cindy is inconsolable. She’s absolutely devastated. This is every parent’s worst nightmare, and the family is still trying to process everything that happened.”
Presley had checked into the treatment facility that same weekend, sources claimed, making the timing of his death all the more crushing for relatives who had hoped he was taking steps toward recovery. Santa Monica Police Department officers were dispatched to the facility where he was pronounced deceased.
After news broke, a family representative issued a brief statement requesting “privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
The loss has rippled through Presley’s circle beyond just immediate family. “The entire friend group is devastated,” the first source shared, noting he had remained popular among peers from childhood onward.
Presley’s struggles had played out in public for years. In 2018, Beverly Hills police arrested him for DUI after pulling him over for speeding. He pleaded no contest the following year and served three years on probation.
He spoke openly about his opioid addiction and his battle with depression, which he once described as a “24-7 job.”
Despite these challenges, Crawford maintained an unwavering presence in his life. The first source emphasized her hands-on approach throughout both children’s upbringing, noting she never missed a school function and stayed on top of every aspect of their lives.
“Cindy was extremely involved in everything when it came to Kaia and Presley growing up,” the source said. “She never missed a school function and was on top of everything when it came to her kids.”
That vigilance extended into Presley’s adulthood and his attempts to get well. “I’m sure that Cindy would make sure her kid was going to the best rehab though,” the source continued. “That’s the kind of mom she was. She was so involved in everything for them.”
Earlier this year, Presley had documented one such attempt at getting clean. In March, he posted to social media about traveling to Mexico to work on his sobriety, where he took ibogaine, a psychoactive substance derived from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga that some use to support recovery efforts.
“You are a warrior!” Crawford commented on the post. “Walk thru the fire to find yourself So proud!”
The Gerber family has not announced any public memorial plans.