The mystery surrounding the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez from Lake Elsinore, California, has shaken not only Los Angeles but the entire music industry, and it continues to unfold with more concerning details. The teen, after being reported missing multiple times over the past year, was found dead and dismembered in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to rising musician D4vd (David Anthony Burke).
The discovery has since sparked questions about Celeste’s troubled past, her alleged ties to the 20-year-old singer, and what really happened in the months leading up to her tragic end.
Investigation uncovers a troubled history
The investigation surrounding Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s murder continues to unfold, with disturbing details. According to police reports and accounts from her former teacher, the teen ran away from home multiple times throughout 2024 before going missing. The Lake Elsinore resident reportedly first disappeared in January 2024 and was found in the Hollywood Hills.
Just months later, in April, Celeste went missing again. The teen was only 13 years old at that time. Based on the accounts of her friends and investigators, she often relied on fake IDs to move around on her own. Her family had reported her missing at least three times last year.
Was Celeste Rivas secretly living with D4vd?
As the investigators try to trace Rivas’ steps over the past year, one of the biggest questions that still remains unanswered is whether Celeste had been secretly living with the 20-year-old musician in the months before her death. Online sleuths have pointed out photos and videos of the two together, allegedly while she was listed as a missing minor. Given the location of the discovery, the speculation is rife that the teen may have stayed at D4vd’s Hollywood Hills rental.
Before authorities confirmed her identity, Celeste’s mother suspected it was her daughter. She told the police that she once dated a guy named David, though it’s unclear if the singer was the said boyfriend. Another thing to note was the ‘Shh…’ tattoo that Rivas had on her index finger, the same design D4vd has in the same spot. It was, in fact, the tattoo and her dental DNA that helped investigators identify her decomposing remains.
Image Credit: X
The discovery and suspected links to D4vd
On September 8, 2025, just a day after her 15th birthday, Celeste’s decomposing and dismembered body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to D4vd. The car was reportedly standing abandoned in the Hollywood hills for five days before the discovery, until neighbours impounded it after reporting a foul odour coming from the car.
Though it remains largely unconfirmed, investigators and eagle-eyed netizens have unearthed photos and videos showing Celeste and D4vd together while she was listed as a missing minor. An unreleased track allegedly referencing a ‘Celeste’ has only fuelled speculation about their relationship.
Police have executed a search warrant on David’s Hollywood Hills rental, where Celeste was rumoured to be living. Luminol has also been reportedly used to check for traces of blood in the house. Despite mounting questions, authorities stress that D4vd has not been charged and is cooperating with the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division.
Updates about the Celeste Rivas case
So far, investigators have confirmed Celeste Rivas’ identity and the fact that she had a history of running away. The matching ‘Shh…’ tattoo was the only thing that confirmed her identity, as her decomposing features had become unrecognisable by the time of her discovery.
What we still don’t have a clear answer for is the cause of the teen’s brutal death. Further details will help confirm whether Celeste’s murder is officially a homicide or if D4vd will face charges. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet released a cause of death, and police say the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, D4vd, who was on his tour when the body was discovered in his Tesla, has cancelled the U.S. tour and is reportedly cooperating with the police through the investigation. So far, the police have not considered him a prime suspect.
For now, the mystery deepens. Was Celeste secretly living with the rising musician before her death?
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