Death of Cindy Crawford's son Presley Gerber being investigated as suspected overdose

Officials are investigating the death of Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, as a suspected overdose, Santa Monica police said on Monday.

The 27-year-old model died at a rehab facility on Sunday, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records. The exact cause of death has not been determined, police said, adding there was no indication of foul play.

Allie Jenkins, a representative for Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, told the BBC's US partner CBS News: "The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time."

Gerber had been a model like his mother and younger sister Kaia, making his catwalk debut for Italian label Moschino aged just 16.

He went on to model for brands including Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, and Bottega Veneta.

His father Rande Gerber, a well-known businessman, co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand with George Clooney.

In recent years, Presley Gerber had spoken openly about his mental health challenges and drug use.

In 2023, he told the Studio 22 podcast: "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."

And in this month's American Vogue, external, Kaia discussed her brother's struggles with addiction. She said: "When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone.

"I think that's also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help."

She added: "My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn't share anything - and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, 'I'm gonna be very human for everyone.' There's only so much you can hide from the world. And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you're ashamed of them."

Gerber had previously spoken of his close relationship with his family, including Kaia, who he appeared alongside in a campaign for Calvin Klein in 2018, and whose name he had tattooed on his arm.

He told People Magazine that year: "We're a close family, especially me and my sister, so it's definitely cool.

"We get to travel together half of the time, so it makes it a lot less lonely."

Gerber also starred alongside his mother in Pepsi's 2018 Super Bowl commercial, 26 years after Crawford first appeared in her famous 1992 advertisement for the brand.

"We're a really tight family, so it was just like going to work with one of your friends. It was so fun, and easy," he told People Magazine at the time.

In July, Crawford shared two childhood photographs of her son on Instagram to mark his 27th birthday.

"I'm so proud of the man you've become, but I'll always see you as my little boy! Love you," she wrote.