Investigation into Death of Cindy Crawford’s Son
Law enforcement agencies are actively working to identify the source of the drugs that led to the fatal overdose of Persley Gerber, son of Cindy Crawford. Gerber, aged 27, passed away last weekend in a Santa Monica rehab facility.
The Investigation
The Santa Monica Police Department has found no signs of foul play at this stage in their investigation into Gerber’s apparent overdose. The investigation remains in its initial phase, according to sources. An autopsy was performed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office; however, the cause and manner of death are pending toxicology results. These results could take several weeks or even months to be determined.
The Rehab Center
Gerber had been admitted to Resolution Living, a Santa Monica facility, just hours before his death. The facility is described on its website as a “Mental Health Recovery Residence,” offering partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment for mental health issues like depression, trauma, and addiction. The center provides dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders.
Police responded to a report of cardiac arrest and possible overdose at the location, a $7.7-million mansion, around 9:35 a.m. Sunday. Efforts to obtain comments from Resolutions Living have been unsuccessful.
What’s Next
Tracing the source of drugs is now a standard practice for police in overdose cases. Just recently, officials confirmed that Hayden Panettiere’s cause of death was due to fentanyl and other drugs, including an imitation of Xanax. Investigations are focused in Los Angeles, on whether she procured these non-prescription pills from a dealer. Similarly, the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry resulted in multiple individuals facing charges related to the distribution of ketamine.
Details regarding the Santa Monica police investigation into Gerber’s death are limited. Legal professionals believe the autopsy and toxicology findings will be pivotal in determining legal responsibility. Depending on the findings, the rehab center could also face scrutiny concerning their staffing and emergency handling procedures.
There have been instances where drugs were brought into rehab centers in the past. The family of a woman who died of an overdose at a sober living center once filed a lawsuit under similar circumstances. In a notable case, Edwin Oliva was sentenced to over 33 years in federal prison after giving a lethal dose of fentanyl, misrepresented as cocaine, to a woman in 2019.