The body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found dismembered and badly decomposed in the trunk of a Tesla at a tow yard in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles on September 8, 2025 — a discovery that has turned the spotlight on rising R&B star d4vd, whose real name is David. Nearly two months later, on November 19, 2025, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to KTLA that d4vd is now an official suspect in what investigators are treating as a homicide. No arrests have been made. The cause of death remains unknown. And the case, chillingly, has stalled on forensic limitations — not lack of suspicion.
How a Foul Odor Led to a Horror
It started with a complaint. Residents near the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Laurel Canyon, just one block from where d4vd had been renting a home, noticed a putrid stench coming from a vehicle parked at a local tow yard. When tow workers opened the trunk of the Tesla, they found a sealed plastic bag containing the remains of a teenage girl. Crime scene investigators quickly identified the car’s registered owner: David, the 20-year-old musician known professionally as d4vd. The timing was jarring. Celeste had been reported missing in late 2024, and according to LAPD sources, she likely died in the spring of 2025 — months before her body was found. The decomposition made identification difficult, but dental records and missing persons databases confirmed her identity.The Singer’s Silence and Suspicious Movements
At the time of the discovery, d4vd was on tour. He hasn’t spoken publicly. His legal team has not responded to requests from Entertainment Tonight or other outlets. But investigators say his lack of cooperation is telling. According to KBC News, detectives believe d4vd may have had help disposing of Celeste’s body — possibly someone who drove the car to the tow yard while he was away. The investigation has zeroed in on a mysterious trip he took in April 2025: an overnight drive to a remote stretch of Santa Barbara County, where he reportedly stayed for several hours with no known stops or contacts. Authorities are now searching that area for potential evidence — clothing, weapons, or even burial sites.Meanwhile, a search warrant executed at his Hollywood rental yielded a laptop, which investigators believe may contain digital evidence — text messages, location history, or encrypted files. TMZ reported that forensic analysts are examining the device for any digital trail connecting d4vd to Celeste’s last known whereabouts. The laptop, they say, could be the key to reconstructing her final days.
Why This Case Is So Hard to Solve
The forensic challenges are extreme. The body had been in a sealed trunk for over four months in Southern California’s warm climate. Decomposition was advanced. Autopsy results are incomplete. Toxicology reports are inconclusive. There’s no clear sign of blunt force trauma, stabbing, or poisoning — not yet, anyway. Entertainment Tonight quoted an anonymous investigator: “We’re not even sure if she was killed in LA. She could have died in Santa Barbara and been moved. Or she could’ve been killed in the house and transported later.”That uncertainty has delayed charges. Homicide cases require more than suspicion — they need a clear cause of death, a timeline, and a motive. So far, none have been established. But the circumstantial evidence is mounting: the proximity of his residence to the tow yard, his failure to report the missing teen, the unexplained trip, and his refusal to speak with police. “This isn’t a case of bad timing,” said one former LAPD homicide detective who spoke anonymously. “This is a case of someone who had access, opportunity, and silence. That’s a dangerous combo.”
Who Was Celeste Rivas Hernandez?
Celeste was a sophomore at Hollywood High School. Classmates described her as quiet but kind — an artist who sketched in notebooks and posted poetry on Instagram under the handle @celeste_ink. She had no known criminal record. No history of drug use. Her family, who live in nearby East Los Angeles, say she disappeared after leaving school on March 17, 2025. Her phone was last pinged near the 101 Freeway. No one saw her after that. Her parents filed a missing person report on March 21. It was never upgraded to a priority case — until the body was found.
What Happens Next?
The LAPD is now working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to re-interview witnesses from Celeste’s school and neighborhood. They’re also reviewing surveillance footage from gas stations, toll booths, and traffic cameras along the route to Santa Barbara. If d4vd’s laptop reveals a single incriminating text, search warrant, or deleted photo, it could be enough to secure an arrest. But until then, the case hangs in a legal limbo — a teenager’s life reduced to a decomposing mystery in a car trunk, and a musician’s career teetering on the edge of infamy.Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t d4vd been arrested yet?
Despite being named a suspect, authorities haven’t made an arrest because they lack conclusive evidence of the cause of death or direct proof linking d4vd to the act. The body’s advanced decomposition has hindered forensic analysis, and without a clear method of death — or a witness — prosecutors can’t meet the burden of proof required for charges. The investigation remains open.
Could d4vd have acted alone?
Law enforcement sources believe it’s unlikely. Disposing of a dismembered body requires planning, tools, and help — especially moving it across the city and parking it at a tow yard without drawing attention. Investigators are exploring whether someone helped transport the vehicle or clean the rental home. A second person, possibly someone connected to d4vd’s touring crew or social circle, remains a focus of the probe.
What role did the trip to Santa Barbara play?
The overnight trip in April 2025 is now a critical timeline marker. Investigators suspect it may be when Celeste died — possibly in a remote location where evidence could be buried or discarded. Search teams have begun combing wooded areas and abandoned roads in Santa Barbara County, looking for items matching descriptions from Celeste’s family or digital footprints from d4vd’s phone.
How has the public reacted to d4vd being named a suspect?
Fans are divided. Some have rallied behind d4vd, claiming the media is sensationalizing a tragic coincidence. Others, including victims’ advocacy groups, have called for transparency. Celeste’s family has not made public statements, but a source close to them says they’re “waiting for justice, not headlines.” Social media campaigns under #FindJusticeForCeleste have gained traction, with over 200,000 signatures on a petition demanding the release of all evidence.
Is this the first time a musician has been linked to a dismemberment case?
No. In 2018, rapper Lil Wayne’s former bodyguard was convicted in the dismemberment and murder of a woman in Atlanta. In 2021, a British indie musician was charged in the UK with killing and dismembering his partner. But this is among the first cases involving a rising pop-R&B artist with a global fanbase. The visibility of d4vd’s career — with over 12 million monthly Spotify listeners — has made the case far more complex than typical homicides.
