An official cause of death for Robert De Niro‘s grandson has finally been revealed, one month after his devastating passing on July 2.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez was the son of Robert De Niro’s eldest daughter, 51-year-old Drena – whose mother Diahnne Abbott was married to De Niro.
In 1976, De Niro adopted Drena during his marriage to Diahnne, but their union dissolved in 1988, twelve years later.
This week, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York finally confirmed that the ‘Casino’ actor’s grandson Leandro tragically passed away as a result of an accidental drug overdose.
The Chief Medical Examiner determined that the “toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine” were the contributing factors to his sudden death, per People.
The manner of Rodriguez’s death was officially ruled as an accident.
Sofia Haley Marks, aged 20, was arrested in July in connection to Leandro’s passing. Allegedly, Marks was involved in selling drugs to him prior to being discovered unresponsive at his Manhattan apartment.
Appearing before a federal court in Manhattan a fortnight later, Marks faced three federal narcotics charges and voluntarily remained in custody until a future bail request.
Shortly after her son’s passing, Drena expressed her sorrow on social media, writing: “None of this is right or fair and my heart hurts in a way I never knew possible while still breathing and barely functioning. Leo my darling I love you today like the first day I held you in my arms.”
Drena, who is an actress and filmmaker, collaborated with her son on multiple projects, including the film ‘A Star is Born’.
In a statement released shortly after Leandro’s death, De Niro said: “I’m 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.”
Drena further wrote on social media: “The same man that picked us up from the hospital when you were born drove us to the funeral home where I touched and held you for the last time.”
“You were kindness acceptance and love and I can’t believe any of this is real YOU made everything bearable and every burden lighter. You didn’t deserve to die like this but I can only believe that God needed a strong powerful angel in their army,” she continued.
“I’m holding you every second of every moment [in] my heart and memories until I’m with you again. My heart is broken forever. Me daddy and your family love you, I love I love you with every beat of my crying heart.”
Our thoughts are with Leandro De Niro’s family and friends at this heartbreaking time.
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