Police authorities are still trying to piece together the events that led to the tragic death of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez – the 19-year-old grandson of Robert De Niro who died on July 2 of a believed drug overdose. On July 13, the first arrest was made in connection to his sudden and untimely death.
Authorities arrested a 20-year-old woman named Sofia Haley Marks – also known as ‘Percocet Princess’ on the streets – and are booking her on federal drug distribution charges and selling drugs to a minor. She’s expected to be arraigned on the charges in front of a Manhattan federal court on Friday (July 14).
While Marks isn’t being charged with murder, investigators confirmed the investigation is ongoing and are labeling her arrest as a ‘probable cause arrest.’ Her arrest is also being linked to an ongoing probe by the NYPD, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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The arrest comes just 10 days after Leandro De Niro Rodriguez’s mother, Drena De Niro (the adopted daughter of Robert De Niro), revealed the 19-year-old’s death in a statement on Instagram. “It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo,” she wrote in the post.
In the comments section, Drena accused an unnamed person of selling her son ‘fentanyl-laced pills’ – adding that the individual knew they were laced, but sold them anyway. “So for all these people still f**king around selling and buying this sh*t, my son is gone forever,” she said – not mincing her words.
A few days later, Robert De Niro released his own statement regarding the tragic 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,” he told CNN.
On July 10, just a few days before the arrest of Sofia Marks, Drena took to her Instagram again to share some kind words about her son. Missing you hard my Wild Boy Leo . I understand you better every day .. You were and will always be a gift. Take care of our Daisy and let her take care of you now,” she wrote.
Remembering the Life of Leandro De Niro Rodriguez
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez was born on June 25, 2004 to Drena De Niro and Carlos Rodriguez. He’s the grandson of Robert De Niro, who adopted Drena after marrying his ex-wife, Diahnne Abbott (Drena’s mother), in 1976. Robert and Diahnne divorced in 1988, but he remained close to both Drena and Leo.
Despite being just 19 years old, Leandro had already appeared in three major films. His first film credit came in 2005 when he had a small role in Bruno de Almeida’s film called The Collection – he was only a year old at the time. Leandro also appeared in Cabaret Maxime (2018) and A Star Is Born (2018).
“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,” Drena wrote in another Instagram tribute for her son.
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Leandro’s death comes just a few months after Robert De Niro welcomed his seventh child – a daughter named Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro. It’s his first child with girflriend Tiffany Chen, who recently revealed her scary postpartum health complication that ended with her being diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.
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