Court Imposes Secrecy in Probe of Celeste Rivas’ Death

Introduction to the Case

Los Angeles police have obtained a court order forbidding the Medical Examiner’s office from releasing all details of their investigation into the death of a teenage girl whose body was discovered in the trunk of singer D4vd’s Tesla, officials said Monday. Detectives discovered the heavily decomposed corpse at a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8. The performer’s Tesla had been towed from a street in the Hollywood Hills after being abandoned for weeks.

Background on the Discovery

Since then, Los Angeles Police Department investigators have awaited autopsy results on the body, which authorities say is Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a 14-year-old who ran away from home in Lake Elsinore. In a prepared statement Monday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office said that it has received a “court order, initiated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), to place a security hold on Medical Examiner case number 2025-14252, Celeste Rivas Hernandez.”

Details of the Court Order

According to the medical examiner, the order was issued Friday and demands that “no records or details associated with the case, including the cause and manner of death and Medical Examiner report, can be released or posted on the website until further notice.” “The Department’s mission is to have full transparency with the community by providing information about our cases to empower people to make changes that save lives,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo.

Reaction from the Medical Examiner

In the examiner’s statement, Ukpo seemingly questioned the move to seal the findings. “The practice of security holds is virtually unheard of in other counties and has not been proven to improve outcomes in the legal system. We are dedicated to serving our community with full transparency; however, the law precludes us from doing so while the court order remains in this case.” The LAPD first requested a security hold on the case on Sept. 15, “which was denied due to insufficient justification to warrant the hold,” according to the statement.

Investigation Details

“The Department understands the public’s interest in this case and remains committed to transparency when possible. Information will be made available once the court order is lifted,” the examiner’s office said. In reply to the medical examiner’s announcement, LAPD Capt. Mike Bland said this remains an ongoing investigation by the Robbery Homicide Division and the purpose of the court order is to ensure the LAPD receives information before the public does. For months, the LAPD has declined to name the singer — or anyone else — as a suspect in the case, saying that there has been no finding that the death was homicide.

Circumstances Surrounding Celeste’s Death

The girl’s remains were found inside a black bag within the trunk of the multiplatinum musician’s Tesla. According to police, the body was found partly dismembered, but it was unclear whether that was due to force or decay. The girl’s body weighed 71 pounds and had a “Shhh” tattoo on her finger, according to the medical examiner‘s records that were released prior to the court’s order. Celeste’s body was found the day after her 15th birthday. LAPD Capt. Scot Williams said the girl had been “dead for at least several weeks” before the discovery.

D4vd’s Involvement and Music

LAPD Robbery Homicide detectives determined that the Tesla had been left parked along Bluebird Avenue since late July — around the time that D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, began a national tour. A fresh Gen Z voice, D4vd appeared in a music video filled with murderous themes. In one part of the video, a young woman with an apparent chest wound lies on a bed as the singer hovers over her, blindfolded, his white shirt spattered with blood. In another video, “One More Dance,” D4vd drags a person — who bears the singer’s likeness — to a car, where a couple stuffs the person into the trunk.

Celeste’s Background and Disappearance

Long before the discovery of her body, Celeste had run away from her Lake Elsinore home. She was in the seventh grade, and her family reported her missing at least three times in 2024, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. During that time, she appeared alongside D4vd in an online appearance, and law enforcement sources indicate she resided at a rental home with the singer. Investigators believe that more than one person was involved in an effort to dispose of the teen’s body in the months before her remains were found in the Tesla, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the probe. She may have been dead since the spring, according to one law enforcement source.

Investigation Progress

As part of their investigation, detectives searched the Hollywood Hills home where D4vd lived and removed electronic evidence and other items from the residence, which had been leased by the singer’s manager. Last week, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton, who oversees the department’s detective operations, addressed the investigation, saying “accountability is coming. Our RHD detectives have been working and not waiting for that decision (by the medical examiner). They are going to get justice for Celeste Rivas.” “No one is off the table, including him (D4vd).” Hamilton said the probe has stepped up in recent days, but no official suspect has been named.

Conclusion

The case of Celeste Rivas’ death remains a complex and ongoing investigation, with the court-imposed secrecy adding another layer of complexity. As the LAPD continues to investigate, the public awaits answers about the circumstances surrounding Celeste’s death and the involvement of D4vd. The imposition of the court order underscores the sensitive nature of the case and the need for careful handling of information to ensure justice is served.

FAQs

• Q: What is the current status of the investigation into Celeste Rivas’ death?
  A: The investigation is ongoing, with the LAPD working to gather evidence and determine the circumstances surrounding Celeste’s death.
• Q: Why was a court order imposed on the release of information about the case?
  A: The court order was imposed to ensure that the LAPD receives information before the public does, as part of the ongoing investigation.
• Q: Is D4vd considered a suspect in the case?
  A: The LAPD has not officially named D4vd or anyone else as a suspect, stating that there has been no finding that the death was a homicide.
• Q: What is known about Celeste Rivas’ background and disappearance?
  A: Celeste had run away from her home in Lake Elsinore multiple times and was reported missing by her family. She appeared alongside D4vd in an online appearance and may have resided with him at a rental home.
• Q: How long had Celeste’s body been dead before it was discovered?
  A: According to LAPD Capt. Scot Williams, Celeste had been dead for at least several weeks before her body was found.