The 'About My Father' star and her adoptive daughter as well as her late son's father Carlos Rodriguez are pictured at a New York City funeral home, one day after Leandro was found dead in his apartment.
- Jul 4, 2023
AceShowbiz - Robert De Niro and his daughter Drena De Niro have been seen together for the first time since his grandson's tragic passing. The acting vet and his adoptive daughter stepped out in New York City one day after Leandro De Niro Rodriguez died at the age of 19 on Sunday, July 2.
On Monday, the 79-year-old actor was seen wearing a flat cap and a surgical face mask as he left his Upper East Side house and hopped into a black SUV that took him to the Frank E. Campbell funeral home, just a few streets up from his apartment. He was seen arriving at the funeral home with his daughter Drena as well as her late son's father Carlos "Mare" Rodriguez.
Robert later returned home at night after making arrangements for his grandson's funeral. Drena and Carlos, meanwhile, were seen visiting their late son's apartment on the same day.
Dreana broke the heartbreaking news of her son's shocking passing on Sunday. She wrote in an emotional Instagram post, "My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly. You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you."
"I don't know how to live without you but I'll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama," the 51-year-old actress continued. "You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you. I'm so sorry my baby."
She ended the note with a nod to Leandro's artist father Carlos, adding, "I'm so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy." Drena added in a comment, "I still hope this is a nightmare and I'll wake up tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Carlos commented on Drena's post, "Words aren't enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends. He is God's child now. On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark. You can't spell LOVE without LEO."
On Monday, Drena released a second statement addressing her son's death. "It is with immeasurable shock and sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved son Leo," she penned. "We thank you for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we are given privacy at this time to process this inconsolable grief."
Leandro was found lifeless at a $950,000, one-bedroom apartment in the Cipriani Club Residences on Wall Street. The teen's official cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but it is being investigated as a possible drugs overdose. It was reported that he was found sitting on a chair with a white powdery substance on a plate near his body.
