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The Los Angeles Police Department believes that the body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the 14 year old girl found inside a Tesla registered to musician d4vd, had been there for weeks before it was discovered. LAPD Captain Scot M. Williams told People that while many questions remain, investigators are certain Rivas Hernandez died and that someone placed her in the vehicle's front trunk.
The car had been parked in the same spot for several weeks before being towed, leading detectives to conclude the teen was likely dead for that same period. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined a cause or manner of death, leaving uncertainty about whether criminal charges beyond concealment of a body will follow. The LAPD's robbery homicide division continues to investigate.
Williams confirmed that police executed a search warrant at a residence near where the Tesla was towed.
A landlord told SFGate that d4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, had been living there with his manager before moving out days after electronics and other items were seized. Williams declined to specify what was recovered. Online speculation about a possible connection between the singer and Rivas Hernandez surfaced after the Los Angeles Times reported that the teen had a tattoo matching one on d4vd's finger, but Williams said it was too early to comment on their relationship.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the artist is cooperating with the investigation, despite his representative previously stating that he was. He has not been named a suspect or charged with any crime. People reports that his team has not responded to multiple requests for comment. Rivas Hernandez's body was discovered on Sept. 8 in the abandoned car, one day after her 15th birthday, while d4vd was on tour in the United States. Neighbors said the vehicle had been left in the Hollywood Hills for about a month before officers responded to complaints of a foul odor.
Rivas Hernandez had first been reported missing on April 5, 2024, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, which confirmed she had run away from home on multiple occasions earlier that year. The LAPD is treating the case as a homicide. Following the discovery, d4vd, known for songs like "Here With Me" and "One More Dance," canceled the rest of his U.S. tour. His debut album, Withered, was released in April 2025.
