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 about the arrests made relating to the devastating loss of her son, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez. 

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

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

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

“I woke up, and I was just physically a mess. I couldn’t concentrate … I was so worked up,” Drena said.

In a bid to relax, she decided to play calming music while lying down. However, things soon took a drastic turn. The doorbell rang shortly after, and an officer broke the news to her, and everything changed forever.

“This detective stood there, and the whole 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 because you don’t feel any happier,” she told Page Six.

At the end of the day, the 58-year-old actress hopes that justice will be served. However, she is not particularly interested in “ruining” the lives of the alleged perpetrators. In her words:

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

Drena then revealed that she wasn’t totally in the dark when it came to her late son’s drug issues. She knew that before he started taking opioids, he “liked to smoke weed” and have a good time.

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

The actress and her son had even discussed the possibility of trying rehab again, but he never got the chance to do so. 

As Drena mourned her son, she made a significant move. She established the Leandro De Niro Rodriguez Foundation to raise awareness about the fentanyl epidemic and “offer love and empathy to young people struggling with addiction and mental health.”

Despite not knowing how to begin, she went forward with her plans and started the nonprofit organization because she wanted to provide a safe space for young people struggling with addiction.

She also made the move because she wants 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 20th birthday. A month later, it was confirmed that he died from a lethal combination of Fentanyl, cocaine, Xanax, ketamine, and other drugs.

According to The Blast, a New York medical examiner ruled Leandro’s cause of death as an accidental overdose. 

When Leandro’s body was discovered, police officers 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 connection with Leandro’s death, officers also arrested a woman identified as Sophia Marks. She was believed to be Leandro’s drug dealer, and 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 always with her. She recently embarked on a trip to the Vatican in Rome 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 entire trip… his love for his family, his mischievousness, his playfulness,” she penned, per The Blast.

The actress expressed gratitude for the opportunity 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 as the “two most divine Leos.”