The facility where Presley Gerber died on September 20, 2026, is operated by clinical psychologist Dr. Reza Nabavi, whose past criminal convictions for drug offenses led to issues with the California Board of Psychology over his professional license.
Details surrounding the death of 27-year-old Presley Gerber at a Santa Monica recovery residence have brought renewed scrutiny to the facility’s leadership. Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, was found unresponsive at the property on September 20, 2026. Authorities confirmed there was no indication of foul play, while the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner deferred its autopsy pending additional testing.
As investigators examine the circumstances of the suspected overdose, attention has turned to the background of Dr. Reza Nabavi, the clinical psychologist who co-founded Resolutions Living and Resolutions Therapeutic Services. State records show Nabavi managed a turbulent licensing process following two arrests in 2002 before establishing his Santa Monica practice.
Dr. Reza Nabavi’s 2002 Arrests and State Licensing Scrutiny
State licensing files and police documents outline a series of legal hurdles that preceded Nabavi’s career in addiction treatment. In February 2002, when Nabavi was 25, Oakland Police Department officers found him asleep in a car in an area noted for narcotics and prostitution activity, according to official records reviewed by Page Six. A 15-year-old girl who told police she was under the influence of methamphetamine was inside the vehicle. Officers searching the car reported recovering methamphetamine, marijuana, a hunting knife, a handgun, and ammunition.
In May 2002, Nabavi pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor controlled-substance possession charge, receiving 36 months of probation from an Alameda County Circuit Court judge. Less than four weeks later, police arrested him again after he allegedly agreed to sell methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Officers reported finding narcotics and a glass pipe during that search, leading to a second no-contest plea to misdemeanor drug possession and another 36-month probation term.
Those convictions complicated his path into clinical psychology. When Nabavi applied to the California Board of Psychology for professional registration in 2004, the board denied the request due to his criminal history, controlled-substance use, and related conduct. A second application was denied in 2005.
Nabavi eventually registered as a psychological assistant in January 2006. Although the board revoked that registration the following month, it stayed the revocation under strict probationary conditions. Those terms required a psychological evaluation, weekly monitoring by a licensed psychologist, participation in a drug recovery program, and random fluid testing. Having complied with those conditions, Nabavi obtained his psychologist license in December 2006, and the state granted an early termination of his probation in May 2008. His license remains active through June 30, 2028.
Resolutions Living and the Santa Monica Facility Classification
After completing his doctorate at the California School of Professional Psychology and serving as director of family services at the celebrity-frequented Promises Malibu facility from June 2006 to May 2011, Nabavi founded Resolutions Therapeutic Services in 2013. He operates the practice alongside partner Dr. Maryam Akbar.
The facility’s official status has emerged as a central question in the aftermath of Gerber’s death. While the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner recorded the location as a rehabilitation facility, the California Department of Health Care Services stated that it has no record of Resolutions operating as a licensed residential substance-use disorder treatment facility in Santa Monica. State agencies classify the property as a sober living or recovery residence rather than a traditional licensed treatment center, meaning it is governed by different regulatory requirements.
Emergency Response and Investigation Details
Emergency dispatch records show that authorities received a 911 call reporting a possible overdose and cardiac arrest at approximately 9:35 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Santa Monica police officers responded to the scene, where Gerber was pronounced dead.
According to reports citing witnesses and media accounts, Gerber had checked into the Santa Monica home the previous evening around 10 p.m. Santa Monica police are investigating whether drugs were accessible at the property, while toxicological tests are expected to establish the official cause of death.
The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time.
Family representative, via USA Today
They have not yet provided a timeline for when further updates regarding the investigation or memorial services will be shared with the public.
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