Police in Los Angeles are investigating the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was discovered earlier this month inside the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd. Officials confirmed Monday that the cause and manner of death remain undetermined.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the remains on Sept. 8, two days after the Tesla had been towed from a Hollywood street to an impound lot. According to police, the body was already in a state of decomposition when it was discovered.
Medical Examiner Still Reviewing Cause of Death
Authorities said Rivas Hernandez may have been dead for several weeks before her body was found. The official death certificate lists her cause of death as “deferred” and her manner of death as “pending investigation.”
Investigators confirmed she was not pregnant at the time of her death and had not been within the past year.
The LAPD emphasized that it remains unclear whether criminal culpability exists beyond the concealment of her body. Toxicology and additional lab tests are underway to determine how she died.
Discovery of the Body
On Sept. 8, LAPD officers were called to an impound lot in Hollywood after staff reported a foul odor coming from a Tesla. Police sources said the body was discovered in the vehicle’s front trunk.
The Tesla had been abandoned for two days before being towed, according to investigators.
The car is registered to 20-year-old singer David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, who rose to fame on TikTok with more than 3.8 million followers.
Singer D4vd’s Residence Searched, Tour Canceled
Following the identification of the victim, the LAPD searched a Los Angeles home where D4vd had been living. Law enforcement sources confirmed the search was directly linked to the ongoing investigation.
Media reported that representatives for the singer have not responded to requests for comment.
D4vd’s ongoing “Withered” world tour was disrupted following the discovery. Concerts in San Francisco and Los Angeles were canceled, along with the upcoming European leg. Promotion of his debut album’s deluxe edition, initially set for release on Sept. 19, has also been paused.
LAPD Urges Patience as Investigation Continues
The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division said it is “diligently investigating” the circumstances surrounding Rivas Hernandez’s death.
“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we continue this investigation,” the department said in a statement.
For now, the case remains classified as a death investigation, not a homicide, pending further medical findings.
