The tragic tale of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 15-year-old whose life ended in a gruesome discovery within singer D4vd's Tesla, has been shrouded in secrecy, as per official pronouncements. The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office, under a court-ordered security hold, has maintained a tight lid on any details regarding Ms. Rivas Hernandez's demise, keeping them off their website as well. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo remarked that such practice of security holds is "unprecedented in other counties" and "has not been proven to enhance justice in the legal system."
The police department, eager to ensure officers receive information from the Medical Examiner before the public, requested the order. However, Dr. Ukpo emphasized their commitment to serving the community with full transparency, adding that the law prevents them from doing so while the court order remains in place.
The gruesome discovery was made on 8 September, when police found Rivas Hernandez's remains inside the boot of the impounded Tesla, following reports of a foul odor at a Hollywood tow yard. The teen, last seen in April 2024 from Lake Elsinore in California and listed as missing on a missing person flyer cited by CBS, D4vd's real name David Anthony Burke's debut album had just been released in April and he was on tour when the remains were discovered. Though he has not commented on the case, his representatives previously stated that he was cooperating with police.
The case is being investigated by the robbery-homicide division of the police department, with no arrests made so far. The county's medical examiner had earlier stated that Ms. Rivas Hernandez's body was "severely decomposed" when found in September and deferred making a ruling on her cause of death pending the investigation. Her remains were found in a bag inside D4vd's car, and she was wearing a small black tube top, leggings, and jewelry, including a yellow metal stud earring and a yellow metal chain bracelet. She also had a tattoo that read "Shhh…" on her index finger - a marking nearly identical to that on the pop singer's own index finger.
The investigation revealed that her body had been "deceased for several weeks," indicating she had run away from her home repeatedly, a girl who neighbors recognized as a first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from El Salvador who would visit the corner store almost daily to buy candy and soda, according to the Los Angeles Times. Her family, who described her as a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend, is "heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss." They solicited money on a crowdfunding website to pay for her funeral, which took place in October.
The case has also taken a toll on D4vd's aspiring career. His world tour was canceled days after the discovery, and Sony Music Publishing reportedly suspended promotion of his sophomore album. The singer's posh Hollywood Hills mansion was raided by Los Angeles police just blocks from where his Tesla had been towed. US retailers Hollister and footwear giant Crocs dropped D4vd from marketing campaigns, and Telepatía singer Kali Uchis announced she was taking down their collaboration, Crashing.
