The body of a 15-year-old girl whose decomposing and dismembered body was found at a Hollywood tow yard in the front trunk of a Tesla owned by popular singer D4vd may have been dead and inside the vehicle for “several weeks,” police said Monday.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body was found Sept. 8 in the Tesla’s front trunk, after a worker at the tow yard smelled a foul odor coming from the vehicle. The car was registered in Texas to David Anthony Burke, the singer known as D4vd — pronounced “David.”
Celeste had been reported missing by her mother last year, when the girl was just 13. The mother has told reporters that her daughter had a boyfriend named David. D4vd has a tattoo on one of his fingers matching the one reading “Shhh” that the Los Angeles County medical examiner revealed was on Rivas’ index finger.
The Tesla had been abandoned near a home in the 1300 block of Doheny Place, not far from a home D4vd had rented.
“The vehicle had been parked at the location from which it was towed for several weeks, so Ms. Rivas Hernandez may have been deceased for several weeks before the discovery of her body,” according to an LAPD statement released Monday.
No arrests have been made in connection with the teen’s death. A representative for D4vd has said the singer is cooperating with investigators.
“The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause or manner of Ms. Rivas Hernandez’s death,” police said Monday. “As such, it remains unclear whether there is any criminal culpability beyond the concealment of her body. (Robbery-Homicide Division) is thoroughly examining every aspect of this case to uncover the truth and seek justice for Celeste Rivas Hernandez and her family.
“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we continue this investigation. Further updates will be provided as appropriate, but at this time, we are unable to answer additional questions.”
The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that the 2023 Tesla had been parked on Bluebird Avenue in Hollywood Hills for so long that some residents complained about it in late August, leading the car to be ticketed. A parking enforcement officer marked the Tesla on Aug. 27, noting the position of its tires, according to The Times. The officer issued a citation on Sept. 3 to the Tesla for violating the 72-hour parking ordinance.
The Tesla had been abandoned near a home in the 1300 block of Doheny Place, not far from a home Burke had rented. Police recently served a search warrant at the house and took several items as possible evidence.
The body of the teen was recently released by the county medical examiner to her family, and a memorial service is scheduled for Oct. 4, according to a GoFundMe page created to support the family.
D4vd was on the last leg of a U.S. tour when Rivas’ body was discovered. Several shows were canceled, including one that had been scheduled at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre.
According to various reports, his label, Interscope Records, has halted all promotion of D4vd’s latest record, “Withered.”