Robert De Niro’s late grandson has been hailed as a “sweet wild boy” by his mother on the first anniversary of the teenager’s death.
Robert De Niro’s late grandson has been hailed as a ‘sweet wild boy’ by his mother on the first anniversary of the teenager’s death
The 80-year-old ‘Raging Bull’ actor’s girl Drena De Niro, 52, was left broken when her 19-year-old son Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez was killed on 2 July, 2023, by an accidental drug overdose of substances including fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.
Drena posted a series of never-before-seen photos of Leandro and one of his grave to mark a year since his shock passing, with the opening snap in her series of images on Instagram showing Leandro posing in a leather jacket and leather pants with his arms open wide.
She captioned the carousel of images: “I KNEW this kid was jacking my clothes behind my back!!!
“Today we celebrated sweet wild boy Leo (black heart emoji).. in your short time here you made the world a brighter place.
“You are deeply loved like the sun loves the moon and the moon loves the sea. “Thank you to everyone of you who held me, @carlosmare and our family in your arms and hearts through the darkest days.. I can only hope to pay it forward.. #cantspelllovewithoutleo (red heart, sea, sunshine, red heart, bat, white dove, dog, lion, three stars and four shooting star emojis) #bigmargiela #neonguts #rumi.”
Among the pictures shared by Drena was a snap of a set of lines from a poem about the power of someone’s presence and a snap visiting her son’s grave.
It was adorned with several vases of flowers, and the devastated mother concluded her Instagram picture set with a snap of Leandro face-on to the camera smiling.
Leandro’s father Carlos ‘Mare’ Rodriguez also posted on Instagram mourning his son on the anniversary of his death.
He put up a black photo with the caption: “Year One. Rest in Peace Rest in Me Leo. #youcantspelllovewithoutleo (praying hands, white dove, red heart and broken heart emojis.)”
Carlos added his late son’s loved ones had made a cake in his honour, and posted throwback videos of Leandro dancing in the street.
Actor Robert said in a statement about his grandson’s death: “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.”
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said at the time of Leandro’s death a “male was found unconscious, unresponsive and was pronounced deceased by emergency services on scene” after police received a 911 at around 2.23pm on 2 July last year.
The New York City chief medical examiner’s office confirmed Leandro had died from an accidental drug overdose.
Drena said on Instagram days after her boy’s passing: “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.”
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