Robert De Niro’s Daughter Breaks Silence On Arrests In Son’s Case

Robert De Niro’s daughter, Drena De Niro, is finally opening up in regards to the arrests made referring to the devastating lack of her son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez. 

While the actress feels some relief that it didn’t end as a chilly case, she doesn’t particularly “feel any happier” because she knows nothing will bring her beloved son back from the dead. 

Five men in reference to the case were recently arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Before that, a girl identified as Sophia Marks was also arrested. 

In a brand new interview, Drena recounted the devastating morning when she learned of her son’s passing. She recalled having a gut feeling that something was improper but not quite knowing what it was. 

“I woke up, and I used to be just physically a large number. I couldn’t concentrate … I used to be so worked up,” Drena said.

In a bid to loosen up, she decided to play calming music while lying down. Nonetheless, things soon took a drastic turn. The doorbell rang shortly after, and an officer broke the news to her, and every thing modified perpetually.

“This detective stood there, and the entire world as I knew it collapsed,” she later added. 

Last month, five men were arrested on federal charges for allegedly conspiring to sell fentanyl-laced opioid pills, which ultimately led to the death of Drena’s son, Leandro De Niro. 

Drena opened up about her feelings regarding the arrests, revealing that she has mixed emotions about them. “[It’s] really strange. It’s so bittersweet since you don’t feel any happier,” she told Page Six.

At the top of the day, the 58-year-old actress hopes that justice might be served. Nonetheless, she isn’t particularly occupied with “ruining” the lives of the alleged perpetrators. In her words:

“I’m hoping they do get some justice. In case you’re going to sell drugs to young people, it doesn’t matter whether you made it, whether or didn’t know, you’re taking a likelihood… I’m not occupied with ruining some 24-year-old’s life.”

Drena then revealed that she wasn’t totally at midnight when it got here to her late son’s drug issues. She knew that before he began taking opioids, he “liked to smoke weed” and have a superb time.

Nonetheless, things deteriorated “so fast,” and Drena began to sense something improper. “I knew it had something to do with what he was doing on the web,” the heartbroken mother shared.

The actress and her son had even discussed the potential of trying rehab again, but he never got the possibility to achieve this. 

As Drena mourned her son, she made a big move. She established the Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Foundation to boost awareness in regards to the fentanyl epidemic and “offer love and empathy to young people scuffling with addiction and mental health.”

Despite not knowing begin, she went forward along with her plans and began the nonprofit organization because she wanted to offer a secure space for young people scuffling with addiction.

She also made the move because she desires to “help prevent other families from ever having to know this pain.”

Robert De Niro’s grandson, Leandro, passed away in July 2023 shortly before his twentieth birthday. A month later, it was confirmed that he died from a lethal combination of Fentanyl, cocaine, Xanax, ketamine, and other drugs.

In keeping with The Blast, a Recent York health worker ruled Leandro’s reason for death as an accidental overdose. 

When Leandro’s body was discovered, law enforcement officials also found a bag of cocaine, pills, and tablets near him. He had also bought fake oxycodone and Xanax before his death, and it turned out that the oxycodone was laced with Fentanyl. 

Before arresting the five men in reference to Leandro’s death, officers also arrested a girl identified as Sophia Marks. She was believed to be Leandro’s drug dealer, and he or she was charged with three counts of narcotics distribution. 

Despite losing her son tragically, Drena continues to be comforted by the thought that his presence is all the time along with her. She recently launched into a visit to the Vatican in Rome along with her father, Robert, and brother, Julian De Niro. 

Deena shared a pictorial recap of her trip on Instagram and admitted to feeling her son’s presence throughout the journey. 

“My little Leo has been showering us with so many signs of his constant presence this whole trip… his love for his family, his mischievousness, his playfulness,” she penned, per The Blast.

The actress expressed gratitude for the chance to embark on the spiritual journey and concluded with a note of “love and gratitude” to the Pope and her late son, whom she describes because the “two most divine Leos.”