Current:Home > ScamsBenjamin Ashford|Cause of death revealed for Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro -Elite Financial Minds
Benjamin Ashford|Cause of death revealed for Robert De Niro's grandson Leandro
NovaQuant View
Date:2025-04-08 17:22:20
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez,Benjamin Ashford the grandson of actor Robert De Niro, died from a combination of drugs, New York City's medical examiner said Tuesday, more than a month after the 19-year-old's death.
Rodriguez' official cause of death was from the toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine, the agency said. His manner of death was deemed accidental.
On July 13, police arrested 20-year-old Sofia Haley Marks on federal charges of selling drugs to Rodriguez, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the arrest. She faced three counts of distribution of narcotics, according to a federal complaint that did not identify the victim.
Marks allegedly sold three counterfeit oxycodone pills that were laced with fentanyl and two counterfeit Xanax pills to Rodriguez on July 1, detectives alleged in the complaint. Rodriguez was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on July 2.
Rodriguez, also an actor, was the son of Drena De Niro — the oldest child of Robert De Niro — and artist Carlos Mare. He had appeared in several projects, including Bradley Cooper's 2018 remake of "A Star is Born."
Drena De Niro had previously said that her son had died after being sold pills laced with fentanyl.
"Someone sold him fentanyl laced pills that they knew were laced yet still sold them to him," she wrote on Instagram.
Following Rodriguez's death, Robert De Niro wrote that he was "deeply distressed by the passing of my beloved grandson Leo."
"We're greatly appreciative of the condolences from everyone," he said. "We ask that we please be given privacy to grieve our loss of Leo."
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 times more powerful than heroin. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on a person's body size, tolerance and past usage, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Around 42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained at least two milligrams of the drug.
- In:
- Robert de Niro
- Drug Overdose
- Fentanyl
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.
TwitterveryGood! (445)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- He started protesting about his middle school principal. Now he's taking on Big Oil
- Today’s Climate: September 4-5, 2010
- Bone-appétit: Some NYC dining establishments cater to both dogs and their owners
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Is lecanemab the Alzheimer's drug that will finally make a difference?
- Authorities are urging indoor masking in major cities as the 'tripledemic' rages
- This $28 Jumpsuit Has 3,300+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews and It’s Available in Sizes Ranging From Small to 4X
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- An art exhibit on the National Mall honors health care workers who died of COVID
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Exxon’s Climate Fraud Trial Nears Its End: What Does the State Have to Prove to Win?
- Meadow Walker Honors Late Dad Paul Walker With Fast X Cameo
- Timeline: The government's efforts to get sensitive documents back from Trump's Mar-a-Lago
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Baby Boy's Name Revealed
- Today’s Climate: August 28-29, 2010
- How Wildfires Can Affect Climate Change (and Vice Versa)
Recommendation
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Unabomber Ted Kaczynski found dead in prison cell
Judge’s Ruling to Halt Fracking Regs Could Pose a Broader Threat to Federal Oversight
Shoppers Praise This Tatcha Eye Cream for Botox-Level Results: Don’t Miss This 48% Off Deal
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
China to drop travel tracing as it relaxes 'zero-COVID'
Coach Outlet's New Y2K Shop Has 70% Off Deals on Retro-Inspired Styles
In Election Season, One Politician Who Is Not Afraid of the Clean Energy Economy