Presley Gerber, the 27-year-old son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, died of a suspected overdose at a Santa Monica recovery residence on September 20, 2026. The tragedy has cast a sharp spotlight on the facility’s founder, Dr. Reza Nabavi, whose past includes 2002 drug arrests and initial licensing hurdles.
The Tragedy at Resolutions Living and the Investigation
Gerber was found dead upon arrival.
The Santa Monica Police Department announced in a press release that there was no indication of foul play.
Dr. Reza Nabavi’s 2002 Criminal Record and Licensing Hurdles
As authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, public attention has turned to the facility’s founder and executive clinical director, Dr. Reza Nabavi. State records uncovered by reporters reveal that Nabavi, now 50, faced significant legal and professional hurdles early in his career following two drug-related arrests in 2002 when he was 25 years old.
In early 2002, Oakland Police Department officers found Nabavi asleep in a car in an area known for narcotics. A 15-year-old girl was inside the vehicle, and a subsequent search uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a knife, a handgun and ammunition. Nabavi pleaded no contest to possession for sale of a controlled substance and received a 36-month probation sentence. Less than four weeks later, he was arrested again after agreeing to sell methamphetamine to a confidential informant, leading to a second no-contest plea and another 36-month probation term.
When Nabavi applied for a psychology license in 2004, the California Board of Psychology denied his application due to his arrests. A subsequent application in 2005 met the same fate. However, he registered as a psychological assistant in January 2006. Though that registration was revoked the following month, the board stayed the revocation under strict probationary terms that required weekly monitoring, random drug testing, and participation in an abuse recovery program. Nabavi successfully petitioned for early termination of his probation in May 2008, and his license remains active.
Photographs published exclusively by the Daily Mail capture Dr Reza Nabavi departing his $4.25 million Malibu, California, property wearing an olive-green surf poncho on his way to a Friday morning swim at the Pepperdine University Olympic-sized pool nearby. Operating Resolutions Living alongside his partner Dr Maryam Akbar, the 50-year-old Nabavi runs the center where the son of businessman Rande Gerber and supermodel Cindy Crawford passed away from a suspected overdose on Sunday following a multi-year struggle with drugs, mental health issues, and panic attacks. Holding his blue swim goggles in one hand, the bearded clinical psychologist seemed carefree while walking toward his black Mercedes S450 to begin his swim session.
Resolutions Living Classification and Facility Licensing Status
The tragedy has also brought scrutiny to how Resolutions Living is operated and regulated under California law. While the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner recorded the location as a rehabilitation facility, state authorities clarified that the property is not licensed as a residential substance-use disorder treatment facility.
Professional Background and Public Scrutiny After the Incident
Nabavi established Resolutions Therapeutic Services in 2013 after previously serving as director of family services at Promises Malibu, a celebrity rehab center that has since closed. On company web pages, Nabavi is highlighted as the Founder & Executive Clinical Director, with a biography noting that he brings over 20 years of clinical experience, specializing in substance use disorders, process addictions, and co-occurring conditions.
The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.
Representative for Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, via USA Today
As investigators await toxicology reports to confirm the exact cause of death, attention remains focused on the oversight and operational standards of unregulated sober living residences across Southern California.