Photo Credit: Instagram/ d4vddd
The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that the cause and manner of death for Celeste Rivas Hernandez remain undetermined, according to statements made by the LAPD captain leading the investigation. The 15-year-old’s body was discovered on September 8, 2025, inside the front trunk of a Tesla impounded in Hollywood. The vehicle was registered to singer d4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke.
LAPD Captain Scot M. Williams said that while many details are still being examined, investigators are certain that Celeste’s remains were placed in the car. He explained that the Tesla had been parked In the same location for weeks before it was impounded, meaning her body could have been inside for a significant period before discovery. The body was found in a state of severe decomposition, making it difficult for medical examiners to establish how or when she died.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has deferred the cause of death, a designation used when further evidence and testing are required. Toxicology reports and additional forensic examinations are expected to provide more clarity. Because of the condition of the remains, it is unclear whether Celeste’s death was the result of violence, an accident, natural causes or another factor.
Investigators have not yet determined whether the case will be classified as a homicide. Officials have described it as an active death investigation, with detectives from the Robbery Homicide Division gathering phone records, analyzing forensic evidence and following multiple leads. Search warrants have also been executed as part of the inquiry.
No suspects have been publicly named, and police have urged against speculation until more evidence is available. Authorities stress that the focus remains on understanding how Celeste died, how her body ended up in the car, and whether another person was involved.
Celeste Rivas had been reported missing on several occasions in 2024. She had only recently turned 15 at the time her remains were found. Police said her body was discovered wrapped in a bag after officers responded to reports of a foul odor coming from the impounded Tesla.