Cindy Crawford’s Words About Son Presley Gerber Take on New Meaning After His Death

Cindy Crawford’s public words about her son Presley Gerber are being revisited following his death at age 27, offering a glimpse into the bond between the supermodel and her only son.

Gerber died Sept. 20 at a recovery residence in Santa Monica, California. Santa Monica police are investigating his death as a suspected overdose, while the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has deferred determining the official cause and manner of death pending additional testing.

For Crawford, the loss comes just weeks after she publicly celebrated Presley’s birthday and expressed how proud she was of the man he had become.

Cindy Crawford’s Birthday Message to Presley

On July 2, Crawford shared a birthday tribute to Presley on Instagram.

“Happy birthday @presleygerber,” she wrote. “I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy! Love you.”

The message was posted less than three months before Presley’s death.

At the time, it was a simple celebration from a mother to her son. Following his death, however, the words have taken on a much more painful meaning.

Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber have two children, Presley and daughter Kaia Gerber.

Presley Gerber’s Death

Presley died on Sept. 20 after entering a Santa Monica recovery residence the previous night.

According to the Los Angeles Times, police received calls reporting a cardiac arrest and an overdose at the residence. Officers arrived at about 9:35 a.m., and paramedics pronounced Gerber dead approximately 10 minutes later.

He was 27.

Police have said there is no indication of foul play at this time. Investigators are examining how Gerber obtained the drugs involved in the suspected overdose and are attempting to trace their source.

The official cause of death has not yet been released.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy but deferred the cause and manner of death while additional testing, including toxicology, is completed. The results could take weeks or months.

Crawford’s Family Asked for Privacy

After Presley’s death was confirmed, a representative for Crawford and Rande Gerber asked the public to respect the family’s privacy.

“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” family representative Allie Jenkins said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Crawford has not publicly released a new detailed statement describing the circumstances surrounding Presley’s death.

A source close to Crawford told PEOPLE that she was “heartbroken” and “completely in shock” following her son’s death. Those comments were attributed to a source close to the family rather than to Crawford herself.

That distinction matters as tributes continue to circulate online.

Presley Had Spoken About His Own Struggles

Presley had previously spoken publicly about mental health and addiction.

In a 2023 podcast appearance, he discussed his own struggles and said he hoped his experiences could help other people facing similar challenges.

“Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that,” Gerber said, “I think that whether I help one person or 100 people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do.”

His sister Kaia also discussed Presley’s struggles with addiction in an interview published by Vogue in August, shortly before his death.

She described him as someone who had become open about his experiences and said she was proud of him.

A Mother’s Earlier Words

Crawford’s July birthday message was not a statement about Presley’s struggles or his future.

It was a mother celebrating her son.

But after his death, the words — particularly her description of him as “my little boy” — have become one of the clearest recent public glimpses into how she viewed Presley beyond his career and public image.

Presley had worked as a model, including appearing alongside his younger sister in a Calvin Klein campaign.

Yet Crawford’s message focused on something much more personal: not the model, the public figure or the famous family, but her son.

What Is Known About the Investigation

Investigators are still working to establish exactly what happened before Presley’s death.

Santa Monica police are investigating the suspected overdose and attempting to determine how he obtained the drugs.

The recovery residence where he died has also come under scrutiny because of questions