Cindy Crawford has said she is 'beyond heartbroken' after her son, model Presley Gerber, died aged 27 at a rehabilitation facility in California on 20 September, with police investigating his death as a suspected overdose.

The supermodel, her husband, businessman Rande Gerber, and their daughter, model and actress Kaia Gerber, issued a joint tribute on Instagram on Sunday, 18 October, almost four weeks after he died. It was Crawford's first public statement since the news emerged via Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner records.

Posting a black-and-white portrait of Presley, the family said they were 'beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother'. They said they felt 'so blessed to have had Presley in our lives for 27 years'. They called him 'a sweet, beautiful soul' and said they were proud of how he had 'showed up in the world, with kindness and vulnerability'.

The message ended: 'Til we meet again our sweet boy. We love you forever.' The family also thanked those who had offered 'love and support', including strangers.

Police Probe Presley Gerber's Suspected Overdose

Santa Monica Police Department said officers were called to the 1000 block of Berkeley Street at about 9.35am on 20 September after a report of a possible overdose. Officers found a deceased man at the scene.

In a statement released the following day, police said the medical examiner had identified him as Presley Gerber, 27, and that detectives were investigating a suspected overdose. The department said there was no indication of foul play.

A law enforcement source told NBC News that Gerber had checked into the Santa Monica facility, Resolutions Living, at about 10pm the previous evening and was 'cold to the touch' when found. The facility has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Gerber's death.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said a deputy medical examiner had examined the body but deferred a finding on cause and manner of death, meaning further testing or studies were requested. News of Gerber's death first emerged through the office's online records, which listed a rehabilitation facility as the location.

Police have not released further details about the circumstances, and no official cause of death has been given.

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Kaia Gerber's Tribute and a Family Confronting Addiction

Kaia Gerber, 25, also paid tribute to her elder brother in a separate Instagram post, writing: 'My brother is dead.' She shared images and video of the siblings together, alongside a longer letter reflecting on their relationship and her grief.

Presley Gerber, also a model, had spoken publicly about his mental health and addiction. He was the couple's only son. He took part in a panel discussion on mental health in June, People magazine reported, and his last Instagram post, on 6 August, showed him modelling a clothing brand's outfit.

Crawford had previously responded to one of his candid posts about his mental health with the message: 'we love you and you are not alone.'

In an interview for Vogue's September issue, published in August, Kaia Gerber discussed his long struggle with substance use and its effect on the family. She said she had tried to be 'the easy one', and that while her parents had been 'very, very private' for most of their lives, her brother had chosen to be 'very human for everyone'.

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