00:00Presley Gerber checked into rehab just days before his death at 27, because he knew he needed help, Page Six
00:06is told.
00:07A source close to the situation told Page Six that Gerber had been struggling in the weeks leading up to
00:11his death, and seemed a little off, saying something was just not there. Energetically, he didn't seem like himself.
00:19According to the source, Gerber felt like he was lacking purpose in his life, hadn't really found his place, and
00:25didn't really know where he wanted to go and what he wanted to do.
00:28He was struggling with a lot of things, but he wanted so, so badly to be free of his addictions,
00:33the source said. He was such a good kid.
00:35The source said Gerber checked into the treatment center over the weekend because he knew he needed help, and had
00:41not been doing well.
00:42He had also struggled with self-esteem, according to the source, who said Gerber had trouble accepting his real self,
00:47and feeling fully confident in who he was as a person.
00:51Gerber had reportedly spent time with his family the week before his death, and was especially close with his father,
00:56Randy Gerber.
00:57Responding paramedics pronounced him dead at 9.45 a.m. on September 20th, according to the Los Angeles County Medical
01:04Examiner's Office.
01:06His cause and manner of death remained pending, although investigators reportedly suspect he suffered a fatal overdose.
01:12The only son of Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber, Presley had publicly struggled with substance abuse and mental health for
01:18nearly a decade.
01:19At 19, he was arrested for DUI after being pulled over for speeding in Beverly Hills.
01:24He later pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge, and was sentenced to probation, community service, and a DUI program.
01:31In 2024, Gerber revealed that he had battled a severe multi-year opiate addiction, and had suffered a near-fatal
01:37fentanyl overdose, that left him in a coma for several days.
01:41He also opened up about becoming dependent on prescription medications, saying he had seen more than 15 psychiatrists, who according
01:48to him, heavily medicated him, without giving him a structured path toward recovery.
01:53Gerber later sought treatment including an ibogaine treatment at a wellness clinic in Cancun, Mexico earlier this year.
01:59In March, he shared a video from the facility, writing that he was absolutely terrified, and had faced what he
02:05had been, quote, running from.
02:07He added,
02:08I started finding my way back to myself, and said he was praying it would be the last time he
02:12needed to return to treatment.
02:14His family publicly supported him at the time.
02:16Cindy Crawford called her son a warrior, and said she was proud of him for walking through the fire to
02:21find yourself.
02:23Randy Gerber also praised his son's courage, while Kaya said she was so damn proud of her brother.
02:27Presley's final public appearance came in June, when he attended a mental health event in Malibu with both of his
02:33parents.
02:34The family smiled for photos, with Presley standing between his mom and dad.
02:38At the event, he spoke about his mental health journey, saying that the most free he felt was when he
02:43was finally honest with himself.
02:45He also encouraged people to focus on self-care and movement.
02:48His final Instagram post came August 5th, with featured photos of Presley smiling outside while modeling clothing from Viore.
02:55Just one month before his death, Kaya spoke about her brother's decade-long struggle with addiction in an interview with
03:02Vogue.
03:02She called Presley her greatest teacher, praising him for being open about what he was going through, and saying that
03:08there's only so much you can hide from the world.
03:10Kaya also reflected on the impact his struggles had on their family, saying,
03:14When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone.
03:18Crawford had also marked Presley's birthday in July with a tribute, writing,
03:21I'm so proud of the man you've become, but I'll always see you as my little boy.
03:26In the months before his death, Presley continued to speak openly about his recovery and the challenges he faced,
03:31leaving behind a record of his efforts to find his way back to himself.
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