Robert De Niro has opened up about his heartbreak after the death of his teenage grandson last year.
Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, 19, was the only son of the actor's daughter Drena, 56, and tragically died in New York City on July 2.
The New York City chief medical examiner's office had revealed to People that a toxicology report showed that the teen had died from the "toxic effects of fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine, and cocaine.”
The actor, 80, who is a father of seven, including his youngest baby Gia, nine months, has now opened up about his grandson's death.
The Killers of the Flower Moon actor revealed to the publication that his first emotion on hearing the news was "disbelief", adding: "It’s just a shock, [I] never thought it would happen."
He admitted: "And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him.
"I don't know if that would've made a difference. And so that's always playing through my mind. It shouldn’t have happened."
Less than two weeks after Rodriguez died, Sophia Marks, 21, was arrested in connection with his death, after being accused of selling counterfeit oxycodone pills.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by People, "Marks sold a total of 50 suspected counterfeit oxycodone pills to an undercover police officer.
"On July 13, following Marks' second sale to the undercover officer, she was arrested and found to be in possession of approximately 156 more suspected counterfeit oxycodone pills and approximately $1,500 in cash."
The 21-year-old was charged with one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and alprazolam, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, each of which also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Marks sold "fake oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl", which is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin.
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is used medically to treat severe pain such as after surgery or for advanced-stage cancer, however, illegally made fentanyl is often mixed into street drugs to make them stronger and more addictive, and poses a great risk of the user accidentally overdosing as they are unaware what they are taking contains fentantyl.
Williams added: "At least one of Marks’s counterfeit pills was purchased and taken by a teenager who subsequently died of a suspected overdose.
"The arrest was critical because, as we allege, Marks knew the pills could kill, and she continued selling them anyway," referring to Rodriguez's death.
At the start of February, Rodriguez's mother shared a tribute to her late son, writing: "Today marks 7 bleak & lonely months since you left this world. 7 months full of tears ,anger , sadness and regret.
"Life is completely empty without you. Life isn’t fair nor did it ever promise to be fair and I try to figure out how to accept that every day. I just wait quietly and patiently like a ghost until when I will be with you again.
"Until then there is no peace. I miss you beyond comprehension kid. I love you more than all the words in the human vocabulary can convey.
"My only comfort in this nightmare is that I know you always knew that. @carlosmare I’m so sorry our beautiful story with Leo ended too soon."
If you or someone you know is battling addiction, please reach out for help and contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or go to https://findtreatment.gov/