LOS ANGELES — In a troubling new development in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, singer D4vd (David Anthony Burke) has now been formally named a suspect by investigators. Authorities say new forensic challenges — including evidence that Rivas’s body was partially frozen at some point — may make it impossible to determine her official cause of death.
Discovery of the Body
Rivas’s remains were discovered on September 8 at a Hollywood Hills tow yard after employees reported a strong odor coming from a Tesla registered to D4vd. The vehicle had been impounded after reportedly sitting on the street for an extended period. Inside the front trunk, police found Rivas’s decomposed and mutilated body.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office initially deferred ruling on the cause and manner of death due to the condition of the remains.
Freezing Complicates the Autopsy
Investigators now believe the teen’s body had been stored in freezing conditions before being placed inside the car. Sources connected to the investigation report that parts of her body appeared partially frozen and were “thawing” when recovered.
Because freezing can halt decomposition, mask injuries, and destroy biological evidence, forensic experts warn that determining how Rivas died may be forensically impossible. Officials say the medical examiner may ultimately be unable to rule anything beyond “undetermined.”
D4vd Officially Named a Suspect
Law enforcement sources confirm that D4vd is now considered a suspect in the ongoing homicide investigation. Police have not publicly detailed the evidence supporting this designation, but sources say they are scrutinizing the timeline of the vehicle’s use, digital records, and the circumstances surrounding the freezing of the body.
Officials have also indicated that they are examining whether a second individual may have been involved in transporting or preserving the remains.
Background on Celeste Rivas
Rivas had been reported missing multiple times in 2024 from her home in Lake Elsinore, California. Her disappearance drew attention, but her whereabouts remained unknown until the discovery of her remains in September. Her identification sparked immediate public outrage and shock, particularly given the gruesome condition of the body.
Ongoing Investigation
LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division continues collecting evidence, including forensic analysis, digital data, and witness statements. The freezing of the remains is significantly complicating their work and may impact potential criminal charges.
No arrests have been made, and D4vd has not publicly commented on the latest developments.
The case remains one of the most disturbing and closely watched investigations in recent memory, and authorities say updates will continue as new evidence emerges.
