Shocking Revelation: Drena De Niro Uncovers Tragic Reason Behind Grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez's Untimely Passing

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Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the grandson of Robert De Niro, tragically passed away due to consuming pills contaminated with fentanyl, according to Drena De Niro, his mother.

"Someone knowingly sold him pills laced with fentanyl, despite being aware of the danger. And now, because of all these individuals who continue to partake in the buying and selling of this destructive substance, my son's life has been tragically taken away forever," shared Drena, aged 51, in response to a social media user's inquiry about her son's cause of death on Tuesday, July 4th. Leandro, only 19 years old, had passed away as announced by Drena two days prior.

"My beloved angel, I have adored you with a love that cannot be expressed in words since the moment I felt your presence within me. You have been my source of joy, the beating of my heart, and the embodiment of all that is pure and genuine in my life," Drena expressed on her Instagram post dated Sunday, July 2. "I long to be by your side now, oh how I wish I could be with you."

She further expressed, "I am unsure how to navigate this world without you, but I will strive to continue forward and share the love and light that you so graciously bestowed upon me as your mother. Your love and presence meant everything to me, and I wish that love alone could have been enough to save you."

In the comment section of Drena's post, Leandro's father expressed his love for his late son and honored him.

"Dear Drena, no words can truly convey the joy Leandro brought to us, or the pain we now feel in our hearts with the loss. He is now with God. On this full moon, his spirit shines light upon what was once hidden in darkness. LEO is a part of LOVE."

After the news of Leandro's passing, Drena expressed her deep appreciation for the overwhelming support her family had received during this devastating time. "We are devastated by the unexpected loss of our cherished son Leo," she conveyed in a statement to We on Monday, July 3. "We are immensely grateful for the heartfelt love and support we have received, and kindly request that we be granted privacy to cope with this overwhelming grief."

Robert, the father of seven children, adopted Drena during his marriage to his first wife, Diahnne Abbott. Leandro, the eldest grandson of the Oscar winner, passed away, causing great distress to Robert. In a statement, the 79-year-old Meet the Parents star expressed his gratitude for the condolences received and requested privacy during this time of grieving for the loss of Leo.

Prior to his death, Leandro appeared in multiple film roles alongside Drena including 2005’s The Collection, 2018’s Cabaret Maxime and the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born.