Presley Gerber died Sunday, Sept. 20 – one day after entering the Resolutions Living rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 27.
Based off Wilshire Boulevard in an affluent Southern California community, the center is described as a co-ed home which “provides the structure” for residents on their journey to recovery from mental health, addiction, and co-occurring disorders through intensive outpatient programs of their choosing.
While it remained unclear why Cindy Crawford’s son entered the center or what treatment he was receiving, wrongful death and personal injury attorney John J. Perlstein warned against jumping to conclusions of liability as the investigation continued into Gerber’s death.
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“I just don’t assume what the cause of death is or that the facility failed them or the family … don’t think the family wasn’t doing everything they had to do,” Perlstein told Fox News Digital.
“It seems like, you know, in these situations the families do so much for the sick person, the person who was addicted.”
He added, “By all accounts, they were a very loving, good family, and it’s just real sad circumstance. It certainly caught a lot of people’s attention. I’ll tell you that much.”
Gerber, the only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died while staying at the rehabilitation facility, according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
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The treatment center’s website says it draws “on our years of experience in addiction and mental health support,” with “experienced staff has supported people with a wide variety of needs, from substance abuse and mental health, to trauma and eating disorders.”
Gerber reportedly checked into the facility on Saturday night and died Sunday morning. Representatives for Resolutions Living did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Nicholas Kardaris, Ph.D., CEO and chief clinical officer of the New York Center for Living in Manhattan and a clinical professor at Stony Brook Medicine’s School of Social Welfare, cautioned against drawing conclusions from the fact that he died at a rehabilitation facility.
As Gerber’s official cause of death has not yet been released, Kardaris — who has not treated Presley Gerber and is not connected to the case — noted that possible explanations could include an acute medical or cardiac event, an undiagnosed condition or a medication-related complication.
People in residential treatment facilities may have complex medical histories, and some conditions may not be immediately apparent when someone enters a program.
“Younger people can sometimes die suddenly, and we don’t know whether they had an underlying medical issue,” Kardaris said.
“It’s not impossible to have a medication-related event, particularly if someone has an underlying heart disorder,” he continued. “Certain medications can trigger a cardiac episode.”
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He added, “People are in rehab because they’re struggling with addiction. It doesn’t mean they’re cured of their addiction.”
Another potential risk during rehab is withdrawal itself, which can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening depending on the substance involved and the person’s level of physical dependence, according to Kardaris.
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“People can die from withdrawal, but the substances that are most dangerous to withdraw [from] without proper medical supervision are benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax, and alcohol,” he said.
The deputy medical examiner (DME) told Fox News Digital that “the investigation is still ongoing and there is limited information available,” and his cause of death has not yet been released.
The DME is in “the early stages of investigating the death of 27-year-old model Presley Gerber and limited information is currently available,” according to a statement from the department.
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“A deputy medical examiner performed an examination today and the cause and manner of death have been deferred, which means additional testing and/or studies were requested in order to make a determination.”
They added, “Due to the ongoing death investigation, the DME cannot disclose what testing and/or studies were requested. Deferred cases can take a few months before a cause of death is determined.”
Santa Monica Police Department officials are investigating the death as “a suspected overdose,” according to a release from the department.
Officers responded to a report of a possible overdose at approximately 9:35 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 20. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who was deceased.
At this time, there is no indication of foul play, and Gerber’s case remains open. The facility has not been accused of wrongdoing.
A representative for the family told Fox News Digital, “The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.”
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
