In September 2025, the decomposed body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to singer d4vd (real name David Anthony Burke). The vehicle was subsequently impounded in a Hollywood Hills tow lot after neighbors reported a foul odor. Authorities identified the remains two days later as Rivas Hernandez. The late teenager had been missing since 2024.
Since then, the case has escalated. d4vd’s homes were searched under warrant, he canceled U.S. tour dates, and brands have pulled promotional content amid mounting scrutiny. TMZ reported that authorities viewed her death as a homicide. Sources also told the outlet in November 2025 that investigators were “looking at d4vd as a suspect.”
About five months later, d4vd was arrested and has since been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Rivas Hernandez’s death. Prosecutors have also filed additional charges, including allegations involving a minor and mutilation of remains, and are weighing severe penalties as the case moves forward.
Below, we’ve compiled everything we know so far about Rivas and d4vd’s alleged connection to the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation.
Who Was Celeste Rivas?
Rivas Hernandez was a 14-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, who had been reported missing in 2024 when she was just 13. Her remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, in the impounded Tesla registered to singer d4vd.
At first, authorities struggled to determine her age and ethnicity due to the condition of the body, but she was later identified through records and family confirmation.
How Long Was Celeste Rivas Missing?
Rivas was reported missing in 2024 after she disappeared from Lake Elsinore, California. Since then, she hadn’t been seen until her remains were discovered in the trunk of d4vd’s car.
According to prosecutors, Rivas is believed to have been killed in April 2025, meaning her body may have remained in the car for several months before it was found.
The body found in a towed Tesla that was registered to the singer D4vd has been identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, according to officials. https://t.co/yAPc3p8k3F pic.twitter.com/9tSsMTZJO2
— ABC News (@ABC) September 18, 2025
How Did Celeste Rivas Die? What We Know About Her Death
An autopsy performed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Celeste Rivas Hernandez died from “multiple penetrating injuries caused by object(s)”, and her manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to an April 22 press release.
The medical examiner’s report found that the 14-year-old suffered two penetrating wounds to the torso, along with “bilateral dismemberment of upper and lower extremities and multiple additional skin defects.” Toxicology results showed a low level of ethanol in her system, which investigators said may have been due to “postmortem changes or ingestion, and does not appear to be contributory to the cause of death.” Initial screenings were also “presumptive positive” for several substances, though further testing is required.
“A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination of Ms. Rivas Hernandez on September 10, 2025,” the release states, adding that “the cause and manner of death were determined December 9, 2025.” The findings had previously been sealed amid the ongoing investigation.
Investigators previously noted that her body had been inside a vehicle for an extended period before it was discovered in September 2025, which initially made it more difficult to determine the exact cause of death.
In April 2026, authorities arrested d4vd (real name David Anthony Burke) in connection to the case. He has since been charged with first-degree murder and additional felony counts. He has pleaded not guilty, and the case remains ongoing.
How & Where Celeste Rivas Was Found
Rivas was found dead in the trunk of d4vd’s Tesla on September 8, 2025. The vehicle had been taken to a tow yard in L.A. The Tesla had been abandoned locally for five days, according to several outlets, though it’s still unclear where exactly the car was left before it was towed.
Police were called to check the car after a foul odor was detected.
How Celeste Rivas Is Connected to d4vd
In April 2026, d4vd was arrested and has since been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Rivas’ death.
Rivas and d4vd had identical tattoos on their right index fingers that read, “Shhh,” according to multiple outlets. Additionally, Rivas’ mother told TMZ that her late daughter had a boyfriend named David before she disappeared in 2024. As previously mentioned, d4vd’s real name is David.
