The tragic discovery of human remains in the trunk of singer D4vd's impounded Tesla has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and law enforcement. Authorities have identified the victim as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, reported missing from Riverside County on April 5, 2024. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the grim finding on Wednesday, classifying the death as a homicide, though the exact cause remains undisclosed.
The severely decomposed body was discovered on September 8th at a Hollywood tow yard. Employees noticed a foul odor emanating from the Tesla, prompting a police investigation. The vehicle, registered to 20-year-old musician D4vd (David Anthony Burke), was impounded after being abandoned in the Hollywood Hills five days prior. At the time of the discovery, D4vd was on tour.
Details released by the medical examiner paint a disturbing picture. Rivas was wearing a tube top and black leggings and had a distinctive tattoo reading “Shhh…” on her right index finger. This detail gained notoriety when a woman identifying herself as Rivas’s mother contacted TMZ, pointing out a similar tattoo on recent photos of D4vd. This revelation, coupled with the cancellation of a scheduled performance by the artist, fueled intense media speculation.
D4vd, known for collaborations with artists like Kali Uchis and 21 Savage, is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, according to authorities. While he maintains his innocence, the timeline of events and the presence of Rivas’s remains in his vehicle raise serious questions. Law enforcement sources, while remaining anonymous, confirmed that the vehicle had been abandoned for several days before impound.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the Los Angeles Police Department are jointly investigating this complex case. The circumstances surrounding Rivas’s death remain shrouded in mystery, awaiting further investigation and analysis to shed light on this tragic event. While authorities haven’t commented publicly on any prior contact between Rivas and D4vd, the investigation continues to unfold, seeking to bring answers to the grieving family and justice to the young victim.
---
Originally published at: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-09-17/authorities-id-15-year-old-girl-found-dead-in-singer-d4vds-impounded-tesla
