On Monday, September 21, a deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Presley.
Although the autopsy has now been completed, the Medical Examiner’s office said that the cause and manner of death have been “deferred.”
That means investigators need additional testing and/or studies before they can make a final determination.
The department also said it could not reveal what specific tests or studies had been requested because the death investigation is still active.
“Deferred cases can take a few months before a cause of death is determined,” the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said.
As a result, despite the suspected overdose investigation, there is currently no official cause of death.
The distinction is important.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Presley’s death as a suspected overdose, but the Medical Examiner has not yet officially concluded that an overdose caused his death. Additional testing will be needed before that determination can be made.
Reports from the Los Angeles Times said emergency calls included reports of a cardiac arrest and a possible overdose. The newspaper also reported that Presley had checked into the rehabilitation facility only hours before his death.
Those details have added to the heartbreak surrounding the case, but authorities have not publicly released a final explanation for what caused his death.
For now, the investigation continues.
A family asking for privacy
Presley’s death has brought renewed attention to the struggles he had previously discussed publicly.
He had spoken about mental health and substance use and had attempted to use his own experiences to encourage more open conversations about issues that are often hidden from public view.
In 2025, Presley launched a social media series called “Mental Health Mondays,” describing it as an effort to encourage people to have honest conversations about subjects they might otherwise keep to themselves.
His willingness to speak publicly about his own experiences made his death especially painful for those who had followed his journey.
But as investigators work to establish the facts surrounding his final hours, his family has asked for privacy.
Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, who married in 1998, have been mourning the loss of their only son. Presley was also the older brother of Kaia Gerber, who has built her own career in fashion and acting.
For now, many of the most important questions surrounding Presley’s death remain unanswered.
The autopsy has been completed, but the Medical Examiner’s office has made clear that further testing is necessary. The official cause and manner of death could take months to determine.
Until those results are available, authorities continue to investigate what happened.
Presley Gerber was 27 years old.
His family is now facing an unimaginable loss while investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
May he rest in peace, and may his loved ones be given the privacy and support they have requested during this deeply painful time.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available 24 hours a day through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.