LOS ANGELES – The decomposing body discovered earlier this month in a Tesla registered to chart-topping singer D4vd has been officially identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager who had been missing from Southern California since April 2024.
The grim discovery was made on September 8 when employees at a Hollywood impound lot reported a strong odor emanating from the abandoned vehicle. Los Angeles police officers responded and found the severely decomposed remains in the front trunk of the Tesla.
Investigation Details
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identity of the victim on Tuesday, though the cause of death remains undetermined and is listed as “deferred” pending further investigation. According to official statements, the body was “severely decomposed” and appeared to have been inside the vehicle for “an extended period of time” before being discovered.
The Tesla had been towed to the impound yard on September 5 after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills for more than 72 hours. The vehicle, which bears Texas license plates, is registered to David Anthony Burke (known professionally as D4vd) in Hempstead, Texas.
Connection to Missing Person Case
Celeste Rivas was just 13 years old when she was reported missing from Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, on April 5, 2024. Her mother confirmed to authorities that the description released by police matched her missing daughter, including a distinctive “Shhh…” tattoo on the right index finger—a matching tattoo that D4vd also reportedly possesses.
In a heartbreaking detail, Rivas’ mother revealed to TMZ that her daughter had a boyfriend named David, though she had never met him.
D4vd’s Response and Career Impact
The 20-year-old singer, best known for his viral hits “Here With Me” and “Romantic Homicide,” has been on tour during the investigation. A spokesperson for D4vd stated that the artist “has been informed about what’s happened” and is “fully cooperating with the authorities”.
The controversy has already impacted D4vd’s career. He canceled his scheduled Wednesday night performance at Showbox SoDo in Seattle as part of his “Withered 2025 World Tour”. Major brands including Hollister and Crocs have removed the singer from their advertising campaigns, and singer Kali Uchis has pulled her collaboration with D4vd titled “Crushing”.
Ongoing Investigation
The Los Angeles Police Department has not classified the death as a crime and has not named D4vd as a suspect or person of interest in the case. Investigators are exploring all leads, including reports that D4vd had been seen in the Lake Elsinore area where Celeste lived before her disappearance in 2024.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed they are working with LAPD on the investigation but that Los Angeles authorities are taking the lead as the death is being treated as a potential homicide.
D4vd’s North American tour is scheduled to conclude on September 20 in Los Angeles, with European dates set to begin on October 1. The status of these upcoming performances remains uncertain.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.