The dismembered body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found inside an abandoned Tesla in the Hollywood Hills in September 2023 — and now, the 20-year-old R&B artist D4vd (real name David) is a suspect in her killing. The discovery, made at a tow yard in Canoga Park, sent shockwaves through Los Angeles and beyond. Celeste, a resident of Lake Elsinore, had been missing since August 2022 — over a year before her remains were found in the trunk of the car once owned by the rising music star. The case, now being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Bureau, has taken a chilling turn with new evidence pointing to a mysterious late-night journey D4vd made to the wilderness of Santa Barbara County in March 2025 — months after the body was discovered.
How a Missing Girl Led to an Abandoned Tesla
Celeste Rivas Hernandez vanished from her home in Lake Elsinore in August 2022. Her disappearance drew little attention at first — a teenager gone, a quiet neighborhood in shock. But as months passed with no leads, her family grew desperate. Riverside County Sheriff’s detectives worked the case, but without witnesses or surveillance footage, progress stalled. Then, in September 2023, a Tesla — registered to D4vd — was found parked on Mulholland Drive, one block from his rented home in the Hollywood Hills. It had been reported as abandoned. When towed to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department impound lot in Canoga Park, deputies opened the trunk and found human remains. Forensic analysis confirmed it was Celeste. Her body had been dismembered.The Alibi That Didn’t Add Up
At the time of the discovery, D4vd was on tour, performing at the Sound on Sound Fest in Bridgeport, Connecticut, from September 15 to 17, 2023. On paper, he had an alibi. But investigators didn’t stop there. They pulled the Tesla’s GPS data — and what they found was disturbing. On March 22, 2025, at 2:17 a.m., the car’s location tracker showed it had driven 120 miles northwest into the Los Padres National Forest, near Figueroa Mountain. The vehicle sat motionless for four hours and 22 minutes. No cell phone records, no credit card activity, no witnesses. Just silence. And then, the car returned to Los Angeles. Why then? Why there? Why after Celeste’s body was already found? The timing makes no sense — unless the trip was unrelated. But detectives say it’s not. “This isn’t a random detour,” said one source familiar with the investigation. “This is a pattern. Someone went out there with a purpose. And they came back.”Who Is D4vd? A Star With Shadows
D4vd, born David, is a 20-year-old artist whose moody, atmospheric R&B tracks have drawn millions of streams and opened doors to major festivals and collaborations. He’s young, talented, and carefully curated his public image — soft-spoken, introspective, almost ethereal. His fans call him “the voice of quiet pain.” But behind the scenes, according to former associates, he was increasingly isolated. One former roommate told KTLA: “He’d disappear for days. No texts. No calls. Said he was ‘recharging.’ But he’d come back with dirt on his boots and a look I couldn’t explain.” His rental home in the Hollywood Hills was modest — a converted garage with no security cameras. But neighbors reported seeing the Tesla parked there for weeks at a time, often at odd hours. One neighbor, who asked not to be named, recalled: “I saw him loading something into the trunk in late August 2022. Heavy. Covered in a tarp. I thought he was moving furniture.”
The Legal Limbo
As of November 15, 2023, no charges have been filed. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Nathan Hochman, has not received a formal case file from LAPD. “The police have not presented the case to our office,” said a spokesperson during a live KTLA report. “So at this point, I cannot anticipate one way or the other whether or not charges will be filed.” That’s unusual. In homicide cases involving high-profile suspects, prosecutors often move quickly to secure warrants or grand jury indictments. The delay suggests either a lack of direct forensic evidence — no DNA, no fingerprints, no surveillance of the dismemberment — or a complex legal strategy. Investigators are reportedly analyzing fiber samples from the Tesla’s interior, blood traces in the trunk, and cell tower pings from D4vd’s phone during the critical window of August 2022 to September 2023.What Comes Next
Authorities say they expect to make a charging decision within 60 days. If charges are filed, D4vd could face life in prison under California Penal Code Section 187. The case will likely hinge on circumstantial evidence — the GPS data, the timeline, the proximity of his home to the vehicle’s abandonment, and the eerie silence surrounding his March 2025 trip. Meanwhile, Celeste’s family continues to grieve. A memorial candlelight vigil was held in Lake Elsinore last month. Her mother, Maria Hernandez, spoke to reporters: “She was a dancer. Loved butterflies. Wanted to be a teacher. They took her from us. And now they’re trying to take her story, too.”
Why This Case Matters
This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a reminder of how easily young people — especially girls of color — can vanish without notice. Celeste’s case went cold for 13 months. Only because a car was towed did justice get a chance. And now, a rising star may be at the center of it. The public is watching. The internet is speculating. But the truth? It’s buried in data logs, forensic reports, and the quiet moments between heartbeats.Frequently Asked Questions
Why was D4vd not arrested immediately after the body was found?
D4vd was not arrested because investigators lacked direct forensic evidence linking him to the dismemberment or the time of death. Although his Tesla was the vehicle where the body was found, and he had access to it, his alibi for September 2023 was solid — he was performing in Connecticut. Without DNA, fingerprints, or surveillance placing him at the scene of the crime, prosecutors cannot meet the burden of proof for arrest without a warrant. The GPS data from March 2025, however, has reopened the case as a potential cover-up or ritualistic act.
Why does the March 2025 trip matter if the body was found in September 2023?
The March 2025 trip is baffling because it occurred months after the body was discovered. Investigators believe it may indicate a psychological pattern — perhaps returning to the site to reenact, cleanse, or process trauma. It could also suggest the vehicle was moved after the body was dumped, and D4vd later drove it back to the forest to remove evidence. Either way, the timing defies logic unless tied to a deeper, unresolved motive. No other suspects have been linked to that location or time.
Could someone else have used D4vd’s Tesla to dump the body?
It’s possible, but unlikely. The Tesla was registered solely to D4vd, and its GPS system showed no unauthorized access or shared user profiles. The car was parked at his rental home for weeks before being abandoned. No fingerprints or DNA from other individuals have been found in the vehicle’s interior. While theft or unauthorized use hasn’t been ruled out entirely, investigators say the vehicle’s history — including its last known driver — points overwhelmingly to D4vd.
What role did Riverside County play in the investigation?
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department handled Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s missing persons case from August 2022 until September 2023. Once her body was found in Los Angeles County, jurisdiction automatically shifted to LAPD under California law. Riverside County transferred all records, witness statements, and background checks on Celeste’s social circle. Their work helped establish her last known movements — including a final text sent to a friend on August 12, 2022 — which remains critical to the timeline.
What are the chances D4vd will be charged?
The chances are increasing. While direct evidence is still lacking, the combination of the GPS anomaly, the vehicle’s proximity to his home, the dismemberment method, and the lack of any other suspects makes this one of the most compelling circumstantial cases in recent LA history. If prosecutors can link the vehicle’s interior traces to the time of death — or prove the March 2025 trip was an attempt to destroy evidence — charges are likely. A grand jury review is expected by early 2025.
How has the public reacted to D4vd being named a suspect?
The reaction has been polarized. Fans of D4vd have launched online campaigns claiming innocence, citing his music as evidence of a sensitive soul. Meanwhile, victims’ advocacy groups and Celeste’s community have demanded accountability, pointing to the disproportionate attention given to celebrity cases versus other missing teens of color. Social media hashtags like #JusticeForCeleste and #D4vdIsNotAVictim have trended nationally. The case has reignited debates about privilege, media bias, and how society responds to violence against young women.
