Why Was Celeste Rivas Hernandez Found in D4vd’s Tesla
The body of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd because prosecutors say he killed her in April 2025 and needed to move her remains after her death. The car sat abandoned for weeks in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood before a parking citation led to its impound, where the odor of decomposition finally drew attention. Court records outline a timeline that stretches from an alleged relationship to the discovery of the remains nine months later.
Vehicle abandonment timeline
The 2023 Tesla Model X was parked on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills beginning around late July 2025. Citations for violating the city’s 72-hour parking rule were issued on August 27 and September 3. The vehicle was towed on September 5 and stored at a Hollywood tow yard.
Workers at the yard noticed a strong smell and swarms of flies around the car the next day. Police obtained a warrant and opened the frunk, finding two black cadaver bags. One contained the torso and head; the second held the severed arms and legs.
At least eleven air fresheners were recovered from the console, rear seats, and frunk. Forensic swabs tested positive for the victim’s DNA and blood. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by multiple penetrating injuries.
Alleged motive for concealment
Prosecutors allege D4vd killed Rivas Hernandez on or around April 23, 2025, after she threatened to expose their relationship. Court filings claim the pair exchanged roughly 10,000 text messages and that the sexual relationship began when she was 13. The filings state he feared career damage if the relationship became public.
After the alleged stabbing, prosecutors say he purchased a chainsaw, shovel, and body bag under an alias. An inflatable pool was reportedly used in the garage of his rental during dismemberment. The remains were then placed in the Tesla, which was later driven to the Bluebird Avenue location and left.
The defense disputes the allegations and has entered a not-guilty plea. A preliminary hearing found probable cause, and the case is moving toward trial on charges that include first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains.
Forensic findings in the frunk
The body had been stored for several weeks before discovery. Decomposition was advanced, and the extremities had been removed. LAPD criminalist Chelsea Murillo testified that Bluestar testing showed blood traces in the frunk and third-row area.
Air fresheners were placed throughout the cabin in an apparent attempt to mask the odor. DNA swabs matched Rivas Hernandez, confirming her identity through dental records and genetic markers recovered from the vehicle.
The car had been on national tour with D4vd earlier in 2025. Prosecutors argue the vehicle’s availability and the driver’s access made it a practical, if temporary, storage location after the alleged murder.
Disappearance and last known movements
Rivas Hernandez was reported missing multiple times beginning in 2024. She was last seen alive after an Uber drop-off at D4vd’s Hollywood Hills rental on April 23, 2025. Her family continued searching and later filed a civil suit seeking damages for wrongful death and childhood sexual assault.
The suit names D4vd, his mother Colleen Burke, manager Josh Marshall, security guard Sheldon Jacques, and Mogul Vision. It alleges the use of associates to transport the minor and claims false imprisonment alongside the homicide allegations.
Her remains were identified on September 8, 2025, the day after what would have been her 15th birthday. The discovery shifted the case from a missing-person investigation to a homicide inquiry centered on the Tesla.
Label and career fallout
D4vd’s Interscope contract was terminated in December 2025. His debut album Withered had been released earlier that year, and his streaming numbers had been climbing after tracks like “Romantic Homicide” gained traction on TikTok and festival stages.
Public attention intensified once the charges became public in April 2026. Social media discussion focused on the gap between the disappearance date and the discovery of the body, as well as the use of a high-profile artist’s registered vehicle.
Industry observers noted the rapid removal of promotional materials and the quiet cancellation of scheduled appearances. The case has since been referenced in broader conversations about artist accountability and the handling of missing-minor reports tied to public figures.
Family response and civil action
Rivas Hernandez’s parents, Mercedes Martinez and Jesus Rivas, have spoken publicly about the case and called for the death penalty in statements to media. Their civil suit seeks compensation that includes funeral costs and damages tied to the alleged conduct of named defendants.
Attorney Patrick Steinfeld told reporters that graphic evidence presented at the preliminary hearing supported the family’s claims. The suit remains active alongside the criminal proceedings.
California currently has a moratorium on the death penalty, but the family’s statement reflects the depth of their loss and their view that the alleged crimes warrant the strongest available punishment.
Police and prosecutorial evidence
LAPD Capt. Scot Williams stated the body had been dead for at least several weeks before the September discovery. Prosecutors presented evidence that the Tesla had been used to transport the remains from the alleged crime scene to the eventual parking location.
Records show D4vd was arrested on April 16, 2026. The charges include lying in wait, financial gain, and murdering a witness as special circumstances. The defense has challenged the timeline and the interpretation of forensic results.
Additional evidence cited includes purchases made after the alleged murder and the presence of cleaning supplies and tools in the vehicle and at the rental property. The prosecution argues these items were acquired to conceal the crime.
Media coverage and public reaction
National outlets including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and local Los Angeles stations reported on the tow-yard discovery and subsequent charges. Online discussion centered on the contrast between D4vd’s rising profile and the details emerging in court.
Some coverage examined how missing-person reports involving minors connected to public figures are handled by law enforcement and management teams. Others focused on the forensic trail that began with an ordinary parking citation.
The case has been referenced in conversations about artist safety protocols and the responsibilities of teams surrounding young performers. No new music or public appearances by D4vd have been announced since the charges were filed.
Next steps in the proceedings
The criminal case is scheduled to proceed to trial following the preliminary hearing finding of probable cause. The civil suit continues in parallel, with discovery requests likely to overlap with evidence already presented in the criminal matter.
Both proceedings will determine the extent of liability for the named defendants and whether additional charges or claims surface as more information is reviewed. The family has indicated it will continue to advocate for accountability through both channels.
Case implications going forward
The discovery of Celeste Rivas Hernandez in D4vd’s Tesla has already altered the trajectory of one rising music career and prompted renewed scrutiny of how missing-minor cases involving public figures are investigated. The outcome of the trial will shape how similar cases are handled by labels, managers, and law enforcement in the years ahead.
