Police investigate drug source after Cindy Crawford's son dies in Santa Monica rehab

Detectives are working to identify the supplier of the drugs that led to the death of Persley Gerger, the 27-year-old son of model Cindy Crawford, after he overdosed at a luxury rehabilitation center in Santa Monica on Sunday. The Santa Monica Police Department said there is currently no evidence of foul play and that the case is being treated as an apparent overdose.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office performed an autopsy on Monday but has postponed determining the cause and manner of death until toxicology results are available, a process that could take several weeks or months.

Gerger had been admitted to the Resolution Living facility only hours before his death. The center, described on its website as a “Mental Health Recovery Residence,” offers partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for mental health and addiction issues. Police received calls reporting a cardiac arrest and an overdose at the mansion-style facility at about 9:35 a.m. on Sunday.

"The investigation is in its early stages," a law-enforcement source told the Times.

Tracing drug suppliers in overdose cases has become a routine part of police work, as seen in recent investigations involving other high-profile deaths. Attorneys familiar with wrongful-death litigation said the pending toxicology report will be critical for determining any legal liability and noted that the rehab center could face scrutiny regarding staffing and emergency response procedures.

Past incidents have shown that illicit substances can be introduced into treatment facilities, prompting lawsuits and criminal prosecutions. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the ongoing probe into Gerger’s death.