Body Found in D4vd's Tesla: Police Clarify No Suspects Named, No Charges Filed

New Details Emerge in the Case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has confirmed that the Tesla registered to platinum-selling singer D4vd, which was found containing the decomposed remains of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, had been parked in its final location for several weeks before it was towed earlier this month. This update aligns with a report from September 18 that detailed the vehicle's prolonged stay in the upscale Birds Streets neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills.

Sources in the area previously told a publication that the black 2023 Tesla Model Y remained stationary on Bluebird Ave. for at least three weeks before being cited and towed on September 5. Prior to that, the car was seen moving around intermittently and was spotted on a nearby street as early as May.

According to the LAPD’s recent statement, the vehicle had been parked at the location from which it was towed for several weeks, suggesting that Rivas may have been deceased for several weeks before her body was discovered. The department emphasized that its Robbery-Homicide Division is “diligently investigating” the case but is awaiting an official ruling on the cause of Rivas’ death. While many online have speculated that she was a homicide victim, the medical examiner has not yet ruled out the possibility of an accidental death or suicide.

“The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause or manner of Ms. Rivas Hernandez’s death,” the LAPD statement said. “As such, it remains unclear whether there is any criminal culpability beyond the concealment of her body.”

D4vd’s Whereabouts and Public Reaction

D4vd, born David Burke, was out of state on a national concert tour when news broke on September 8 that human remains were recovered from his Tesla. Rivas' body was found after staff at the tow lot reported that the vehicle was “emanating a foul odor and attracting flies,” according to a search warrant affidavit.

Rivas, who would have turned 15 the day before she was discovered, had been reported missing by her family multiple times in 2024. The family has not responded to requests for comment, but Rivas’ mother reportedly told TMZ that her daughter had a “boyfriend” named David. Photos and videos purportedly showing Rivas and Burke in close proximity have circulated on social media, but police have not named Burke or anyone else as a person of interest in the case.

Additional Clues and Connections

In another twist, Rivas had a tattoo on her right index finger that read, “Shhh…”, the medical examiner revealed when it identified Rivas as the victim in the Tesla. Burke appears to have a similar tattoo on the same finger, according to a photo published by People in April.

Police later searched a rental house in the Hollywood Hills, located a block and a half from where the Tesla was towed. The home’s owner confirmed to a publication that it was rented to Burke’s manager. The four-bedroom house was the backdrop for photos and content posted online by Burke, and it appears he was living in the home before he went on tour.

In his first interview with the media after the search, the home’s owner, Mladen Trifunovic, told a publication that he had no idea that Burke had been living at the property until his real estate manager informed him on September 18. He stated that he had no knowledge of anything happening at the house or what was going on with D4vd and the missing girl.

Ongoing Investigation and Public Response

Burke, 20, has not commented publicly on the teen’s death. A day after the grisly discovery of Rivas’ remains, Burke performed at a show in Minneapolis, tossing Labubu toys to his fans. The rest of his tour was later cancelled.

It took investigators more than a week to identify Rivas as the victim. Her body was so “severely decomposed” that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office could not distinguish her eye color or race and listed her weight as 71 pounds. “She appears to have been deceased inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found,” the medical examiner’s office said in an online report. The cause of the teen’s death is still listed as “deferred.”

When the body was first discovered, a law enforcement source confirmed the Tesla was registered to Burke at an address in Hempstead, Texas. Burke was notified of the investigation and was “cooperating” with authorities, a source close to the singer confirmed.

Impact on Brand Collaborations

Despite the ongoing investigation, fashion companies Crocs and Hollister pulled back on a campaign that featured the musician modeling a collaboration between the popular brands. “We are aware of this developing story. With respect to the current situation, we have removed campaign content featuring D4vd while the investigation continues,” the brands said in a joint statement sent to Footwear News.

D4vd, born in New York, first gained notoriety as a Fortnite gamer and musician with the self-produced song, “You and I,” released online. He broke through to mainstream success in the summer of 2022 with the hit singles “Romantic Homicide” and “Here With Me,” after they garnered so much traction on TikTok, they jumped to spots on the Billboard charts. He released his debut EP, Petals to Thorns, in May 2023. His debut studio album, Withered, was released in April 2025.