Arrest made in Robert De Niro’s grandson’s death.

An Arrest Made in Connection with Overdose Death of Robert De Niro’s Grandson

An arrest has reportedly been made in connection with the tragic overdose death of Robert De Niro’s 19-year-old grandson, Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez.

The New York Post reported that Sofia Haley Marks, 20, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly selling drugs to Leandro before he was found dead in his apartment.

According to the report, Marks was apprehended around 6 p.m. EST during an undercover sting operation conducted by local and federal law enforcement officials. She now faces federal drug charges.

Law enforcement officials revealed that “a white powdery substance and drug paraphernalia” were discovered near Leandro’s body when he was found deceased.

Mother Reveals Cause of Death

Drena De Niro, Leandro’s mother, revealed last week that her son died after ingesting pills laced with fentanyl.

“Someone sold him fentanyl-laced pills that they knew were dangerous, yet still sold them to him,” she wrote. “So for all these people still messing around with selling and buying this stuff, my son is gone forever.”

Drena is De Niro’s oldest child, whom he adopted in 1976 when he married her mother, Diahnne Abbott. Drena took on the last name De Niro at the time. Abbott and the Oscar winner divorced in 1988.

De Niro, 79, has a total of seven children, including a newborn daughter. He and his girlfriend Tiffany Chen welcomed Gia Virginia Chen De Niro on April 6 of this year.

De Niro released a statement on Monday regarding his grandson’s death. “I’m deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo. We greatly appreciate the condolences from everyone. We kindly request privacy as we mourn the loss of Leo,” the Academy Award-winning actor said, according to People.

Fentanyl Crisis and Drug Overdose Deaths

A recent CDC report stated that drug deaths involving fentanyl increased significantly from 2016 to 2021, with nearly 22 deaths per 100,000 people. This alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths has become a major concern and a prominent issue on the campaign trail for candidates running for office, as reported by Reuters.

Last year, approximately 110,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives due to drug overdoses, according to preliminary data released by the federal government.

Fentanyl has been responsible for numerous high-profile deaths in recent months, including those of a former Disney executive, a UFC Hall of Fame Fighter, and a rap artist.

Amanda Harding contributed to this report.

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