The sober coach who accompanied Presley Gerber to the home where he later died is “going through hell,” according to his mentor, who is pushing back against suggestions that he bears responsibility. Michael Healy has largely stayed out of sight since the model’s death, with friends saying he is grieving someone who had become more than a client. His mentor’s defense comes as questions emerge about Healy’s credentials and Presley’s arrival at the sober living residence. Investigators are still awaiting autopsy and toxicology results.
Michael Healy’s Mentor Says He Is ‘Going Through Hell’
According to the Daily Mail, Healy accompanied Gerber to Resolutions Living in Santa Monica hours before the 27-year-old died on September 20. Dirk Eldredge, Healy’s mentor and former employer, described how deeply the loss has affected him. “He’s going through hell,” Eldredge said.
Friends told the outlet that Healy had been spending time at his Marina del Rey apartment while mourning Gerber, who Eldredge said had become a close friend. Several people who know Healy socially or professionally said they had not heard from him in weeks. The Daily Mail reported that he was seen getting coffee in Los Angeles last Wednesday.
Theren Raufmann, founder and CEO of the men’s sober living home The Little Beach House, also addressed Healy’s absence. “He has been taking time for himself, given everything that happened,” Raufmann said.
Eldredge Pushes Back Against Blame Over Gerber’s Death
Eldredge said Healy had worked with Gerber for “years, not days, weeks or months.” His role included being a regular companion and accompanying Gerber on trips between New York and Los Angeles. According to Eldredge, persuading the model to seek help took “months and months.” “Mike brought him to Resolutions and had absolutely zero control over what happened after,” he told the Daily Mail.
Eldredge called suggestions that Healy bears responsibility for Gerber’s death “absolutely, positively false.” “People are looking for somebody to fault or place blame,” he said. “If someone wants to use, they’re going to use.”
He also claimed Healy has stayed in close contact with Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber since their son’s death, describing the parents as “very thankful for what Mike did.”
Questions Remain About Presley Gerber’s Arrival At The Sober Home
Earlier reporting from TMZ, citing anonymous sources, alleged that Gerber’s sober coach called Resolutions Living and told staff the model was high before leaving him there. TMZ also reported that Gerber’s family did not know about or approve the facility choice.
It remains unclear who recommended the residence, whether the family approved choosing a sober house over a medical treatment facility, or whether other sober coaches were working with Gerber at the time.
Eldredge described Resolutions Living as a “very credible, very strong clinical environment.” However, the Daily Mail reported that the residence does not offer medical treatment on site. California’s Department of Health Care Services told the outlet that it requires no license or oversight from the agency.
Healy’s Professional Credentials Come Under Scrutiny
Healy describes himself on LinkedIn as an addiction and recovery expert, interventionist, family recovery advocate and sober companion. He also runs Healy Family Services. The Little Beach House website lists him as a recovery coach and case manager and describes him as a “licensed addiction counselor.” Asked about that description, Raufmann told the Daily Mail that Healy held an addiction counselor license in Colorado.
The outlet reported that its search of Colorado’s licensing registry found no current or former addiction counselor license under his name. It did find a pharmacy technician license issued in 2021 that expired 18 months later. The Daily Mail also said preliminary checks of counselor certification registries in California and Colorado did not find a listing for Healy. He did not respond to questions about his credentials.
Healy has previously spoken openly about his own addiction history. During a 2024 appearance on “Sicker Than Others,” he described beginning drug use as a young teenager and attending numerous treatment programs.
Eldredge said they met when Healy sought treatment at Jaywalker Lodge in Colorado, where Healy later worked. His LinkedIn profile lists responsibilities there that included admissions paperwork, drug testing, and administering medication.
Investigators Await Answers About Gerber’s Final Hours
According to a law enforcement source who spoke to NBC News, Gerber is believed to have arrived at Resolutions Living around 10 p.m. on September 19. Video obtained by Page Six showed him filming a bedroom and balcony, though the precise timing of that footage was not confirmed in the supplied report.
Santa Monica police responded to a call around 9:35 a.m. the following morning and found him dead. Authorities are investigating a suspected overdose and have said there is no indication of foul play. Autopsy and toxicology results have not been released.
Two addiction experts who have no connection to Healy told the Daily Mail that those results could help clarify whether Gerber had used drugs before arriving or after his coach left. “Ethically and maybe even legally, that’s the million-dollar question,” one said.
For now, Eldredge is standing firmly behind Healy. The answers about Gerber’s final hours remain with the ongoing investigation.
