A newly released biography of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reveals the “devastating” interpersonal dynamics and custody disputes that preceded the 2012 suicide of his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy.
The book, RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise by investigative reporter Isabel Vincent, hit shelves Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Drawing from private diaries and dozens of interviews, Vincent details a narrative of isolation, public heartbreak, and a bitter legal dissolution that left Mary Kennedy “completely shattered.”
According to the biography, the most significant blow to Mary’s mental health occurred in 2011. At just 16 years old, her daughter, Kyra, moved across the country to live with Kennedy’s then-girlfriend, actress Cheryl Hines.
Hines, who married Kennedy in 2014, described the arrangement in her own 2025 memoir as a “special friendship,” noting she was happy to take Kyra in. However, Vincent’s reporting suggests the move was a source of profound trauma for Mary.
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“The thing that was most troubling to her was losing access to the children,” Vincent told reporters. “That was her greatest fear.”
The biography alleges that as Mary sought treatment for addiction, her children were “swept up” by Hines. The book highlights deleted social media posts from Hines—including tweets about bonding with Mary’s youngest son over football—which reportedly exacerbated Mary’s sense of displacement.
Vincent writes that Kennedy allegedly utilized Mary’s struggles with substance abuse as leverage during divorce negotiations. He reportedly threatened to revoke her access to the children, a tactic that sources close to Mary described as “truly devastating” given her fragile state.
The book traces the final collapse of the marriage to May 2010. Kennedy reportedly informed Mary of his intent to file for divorce on Mother’s Day. The following week, police were called to the family’s Bedford, New York, home twice, and Mary was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.
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In a move described by Mary’s family as “vindictive,” Kennedy later leaked a 60-page affidavit to a previous biographer. The document detailed allegations of physical abuse committed by Mary against him. Mary’s family has consistently maintained that these claims were “lies” designed to tarnish her reputation during the custody battle.
Beyond the custody dispute, RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise examines Kennedy’s documented infidelities and the systemic pressures within the Kennedy family. The book offers a clinical look at how the intersection of mental health, public image, and private betrayal culminated in the May 2012 tragedy.
RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise is published by Skyhorse Publishing and is available at all major retailers.
