Dead Teen Found in Singer D4vd’s Tesla
LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Los Angeles police sought again Tuesday to quell what it calls “misinformation” contained in recent media coverage of the investigation into the death of a teenage girl whose body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department’s elite Robbery- Homicide Division also insisted that its recent move to obtain a court order placing the Medical Examiner’s Office investigation into Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s cause of death under seal was intended ensure detectives are provided with key information before it is publicly released.
“The order was not sought to undermine transparency,” according to the statement.
On Monday, county Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo issued a statement criticizing the imposition of a “security hold” on the investigation, saying he is committed to ensuring “full transparency” about the office’s work.
“Since becoming the department head, I’ve worked on eradicating the practice of placing security holds on Medical Examiner cases simply by law enforcement request,” Ukpo said. “The practice of security holds is virtually unheard of in other counties and has not been proven to improve outcomes in the legal system.”
With the security hold now in place, the LAPD said Tuesday, “No other information will be provided at this time” regarding the investigation into the teen’s death.
However, the agency did take issue with some details contained in recent media coverage of the girl’s death.
Celeste’s body was found Sept. 8 in the front trunk of a Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard. The car was registered to singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke. The body was found days after what would have been the teen’s 15th birthday, although she is believed to have been dead possibly for weeks in the trunk of the car, which had been parked for several weeks in the Hollywood Hills before it was towed.
Over the weekend, TMZ reported that the teen’s dismembered and decomposing body had apparently been at least partially frozen before it was placed in the car’s trunk, and suggested some of the body parts were frozen when they were found. TMZ reported that the condition of the body was so poor that the medical examiner may not be able to determine an exact cause of death, instead leaving it “undetermined.”
In the statement released Tuesday, the LAPD insisted “the body of Celeste Rivas was not frozen when it was discovered on September 8, 2025.” Police also denied reports that the girl had been decapitated.
Police did acknowledge separate reports that D4vd — pronounced David – – traveled to the Santa Barbara area during spring of this year for unknown reasons. The media reports suggested that he traveled to a remote area and remained there for several hours, and that the singer may have had help from another person to dismantle the teen’s body.
Police did not provide specifics, saying only, “The reason for that trip is still under investigation and we’ve drawn no conclusions at this point about the relevance of the trip to this case.”
Last week, multiple media outlets reported that D4vd had been officially named a suspect in the teen’s death, and that he was being uncooperative with investigators. Police have not confirmed the reports.
Celeste, of Lake Elsinore, had been reported missing by her mother last year, when the girl was just 13. The mother has told reporters that her daughter had a boyfriend named David. D4vd has a tattoo on one of his fingers matching the one reading “Shhh” that the Los Angeles County medical examiner revealed previously was on Rivas’ index finger.
The teen’s brother told NBC4 earlier this year that Celeste was last seen going to a movie with D4vd, but she never returned.
The Tesla in which her body was found had been abandoned near a home in the 1300 block of Doheny Place, not far from a home D4vd had rented. Police served a search warrant at the house and took several items as possible evidence.
“The vehicle had been parked at the location from which it was towed for several weeks, so Ms. Rivas Hernandez may have been deceased for several weeks before the discovery of her body,” police said in a statement in September.
No arrests have been made in connection with the teen’s death. A representative for D4vd said previously the singer was cooperating with investigators.
“The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause or manner of Ms. Rivas Hernandez’s death,” police said in September. “As such, it remains unclear whether there is any criminal culpability beyond the concealment of her body. (Robbery-Homicide Division) is thoroughly examining every aspect of this case to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her family.
“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we continue this investigation. Further updates will be provided as appropriate, but at this time, we are unable to answer additional questions.”
The Los Angeles Times reported earlier that the 2023 Tesla had been parked on Bluebird Avenue in Hollywood Hills for so long that some residents complained about it in late August, leading the car to be ticketed. A parking enforcement officer marked the Tesla on Aug. 27, noting the position of its tires, according to The Times. The officer issued a citation on Sept. 3 to the Tesla for violating the 72-hour parking ordinance.
D4vd was on the last leg of a U.S. tour when Rivas’ body was discovered. Several shows were canceled, including one that had been scheduled at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre.
According to various reports, his label, Interscope Records, has halted all promotion of D4vd’s latest record, “Withered.”
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