Lenadro’s mum has issued a heartbreaking plea
Robert De Niro’s grandson’s cause of death has been revealed by his family.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez death was confirmed by his mother, Drena – who is Robert’s daughter from his marriage to his first wife Diahnne Abbott – in an Instagram post on Monday, but no other details were disclosed.
The 51-year-old has now spoken about the 19-year-old’s death in more detail, saying her son took pills laced with fentanyl.
A toxicology report is yet to confirm this, but when questioned on Instagram, Drena wrote: “Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him.”
“So for all these people still f****** around selling and buying this s***, my son is gone forever.”
In the post announcing her son’s passing, Drena called him her “beautiful sweet angel”.
Paying tribute to him, she wrote: “I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life.
“I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you. I don’t know how to live without you but I’ll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama.
“You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you. I’m so sorry my baby, I’m so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy.”
Since then, Drena has posted other tributes to her son, including a number of photos of the mother and son together. One is at the beach. Another shows Leandro with his arms draped around his mother.
“Where it’s always summertime,” Drena captioned the post.
In a statement late on Monday, Robert explained he was “deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo”.
“We’re greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone. We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo.”
Leonardo was following in his mother and famous grandfather’s footsteps. He landed a small role in 2018’s A Star Is Born and Cabaret Maxime and 2005’s The Collection.
Drena was adopted by Robert, and took his surname, after the actor married her mother, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976.
Her first movie role was in Grace of My Heart in 1996 and she went on to star in several of her father’s films including 1999’s On The Run, 2002’s City By The Sea and 2002’s Showtime.
Robert split with Drena’s mother in 1988 but the A-lister remained in her life and was made a grandfather in 2003 when she welcomed Leandro with her then-boyfriend Rodriguez.
Related links:
Robert De Niro releases statement after grandson found dead
Robert De Niro’s grandson dies aged 19
Robert De Niro announces newborn daughter’s name
