Robert Vineberg, one of the four people arrested in New York during the investigation into actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death, said in an interview this weekend that he believes he could have saved Hoffman’s life. He claims that he did not provide Hoffman with the heroin that ultimately killed him and that if he knew the actor was in New York, he would have helped him.
“He was my friend,” Vinberg, a jazz musician, told The New York Post during an interview at Rikers Island on Saturday. “I could’ve saved him.”
Vinberg explained that if he knew Hoffman was in New York last weekend, he would have suggested they go to an AA meeting. “If I was with him, it wouldn’t have happened. Not under my guard,” he said.
Hoffman, 46, was found dead on Feb. 2. He was just 46-years-old. Vinberg and three others were arrested last week during the investigation.
Vinberg said that he didn’t sell Hoffman the bags of heroin found when in his apartment and would not even confirm if he even sold Hoffman the drug ever.
“When we got together, we talked about books. And art. He was a normal guy. You wouldn’t know he was an Oscar winner,” Vinberg said. “He loved his kids. I offer my condolences to his family.”
He said he was shocked by Hoffman’s death, although he said Hoffman was high when he last saw him in October. They did exchange emails and texts in December, he claimed. “He left me a voicemail in December saying, ‘I’m clean,’” Vinberg said.
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