When a dismembered body was found inside a Tesla parked in the Hollywood Hills, no one expected it to lead to one of the most shocking celebrity-linked crimes in recent memory. But that’s exactly what happened in September 2025, when the remains of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were discovered in a vehicle abandoned just one block from the rental home of rising R&B artist D4vd, whose real name is David. The discovery, made two months after the car was towed from the 1000 block of Hollywood Hills Drive in Los Angeles, turned a year-old missing persons case into a full-blown homicide investigation — and placed D4vd squarely in law enforcement’s crosshairs.
From Missing Girl to Gruesome Discovery
Celeste Rivas Hernandez vanished from her home in Lake Elsinore, a quiet city in Riverside County, California, sometime before September 2024. Her disappearance went largely unnoticed outside her community until a routine inspection of an impounded vehicle in Los Angeles County unearthed her remains. The car? A Tesla — the same make and model D4vd had been driving during his tour schedule. Authorities confirmed the vehicle was registered to him and had been parked near his rental for weeks before being towed after a neighbor reported it sitting idle with no license plate visible.It’s not just the location that’s suspicious. The condition of the body — dismembered, wrapped in plastic, and partially burned — suggests a deliberate, methodical effort to conceal the crime. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are working together, pooling resources from both jurisdictions. The case is now classified as a homicide, and the timeline is critical: Hernandez was reported missing over a year before her body was found. That gap means investigators are racing against time to reconstruct her final movements.
Why D4vd? The Santa Barbara Connection
Here’s the twist: D4vd, 20, wasn’t just a neighbor. He was also in Santa Barbara County during the spring of 2025 — specifically, between March and June — on a trip that raises serious red flags. According to TMZ, detectives have obtained cell tower data and GPS logs showing he drove alone to a remote, wooded area near Gaviota Pass at 2:37 a.m. on April 17, 2025, and stayed for nearly five hours. No known concerts, no public appearances, no witnesses. Just him, his car, and the dark.
“That’s not a tourist stop,” said one anonymous investigator familiar with the case. “That’s the kind of place you go if you need to get rid of something — or someone.”
What’s more, D4vd’s social media was silent during that period. No Instagram stories. No tweets. No live streams. He returned to Los Angeles the next day, resumed rehearsals for his upcoming tour, and posted a single photo of a sunset — with no caption. To those who know him, it was out of character. D4vd, whose real name is David, has built a following on TikTok and YouTube with emotionally raw, confessional music. His fans call him “the voice of lonely teens.” Now, investigators are wondering if his art was a cry for help… or a cover.
The Legal Limbo: No Charges Yet
As of November 21, 2025, no charges have been filed. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, led by District Attorney Nathan Hochman, confirmed to KTLA reporter Mary Beth McDade that the case has not yet been presented for review. “We can’t anticipate one way or the other whether or not charges will be filed,” said a spokesperson during a live broadcast from the LAPD’s crime lab.
That doesn’t mean the case is cold. On the contrary. Forensic teams are still analyzing DNA traces from the Tesla’s interior, the plastic wrap found with the body, and soil samples from Santa Barbara County. Investigators are also reviewing D4vd’s phone records, private messages, and even his music drafts — searching for hidden clues in lyrics he never released.
Family members of Celeste Rivas Hernandez have not spoken publicly. But according to sources close to them, they’ve been in contact with victim advocates and are preparing for a long legal battle. “She was a quiet girl,” one relative told a local journalist off-record. “She loved drawing. She wrote poetry about stars. She didn’t deserve this.”
Why This Case Resonates
This isn’t just another celebrity scandal. It’s a collision of three terrifying realities: the vulnerability of teenage girls, the dark side of fame, and how easily digital footprints can be erased — or misread.
D4vd’s music, with its themes of isolation and emotional pain, has drawn comparisons to artists like Frank Ocean and The Weeknd. His rise was meteoric: over 12 million streams on Spotify in 2024, a sold-out tour in Europe, and a feature on Billboard’s “21 Under 21” list. But now, his image is crumbling under the weight of suspicion. Fans are divided. Some are rallying behind him. Others are calling for accountability.
And then there’s the vehicle itself — a Tesla, a symbol of modernity, wealth, and control. That a dismembered body was found inside one, parked in the hills of Los Angeles, feels almost cinematic. But this isn’t a movie. It’s real. And a 15-year-old girl is dead.
What Happens Next?
Authorities say they’re waiting on two key pieces of evidence: the results of a forensic reconstruction of the Tesla’s interior and a search warrant executed on D4vd’s laptop and cloud storage. If prosecutors find a digital trail — even a deleted text message or a voice memo — it could be enough to secure an arrest. Meanwhile, D4vd’s publicist has issued a single statement: “He is cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
There’s no indication he’s been arrested or questioned in person. But the pressure is mounting. The LAPD has opened a dedicated task force for the case. The FBI has been asked to assist with digital forensics. And the public? They’re watching. Because when a teen vanishes and a singer’s car becomes a crime scene, the line between art and reality blurs — and we all have to ask: Who’s really behind the music?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t D4vd been arrested yet?
No arrest has been made because investigators haven’t yet presented enough evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors require probable cause — not just suspicion — to file charges. While D4vd is a person of interest, authorities are still gathering forensic data, digital records, and witness statements before deciding whether to pursue charges.
What’s the significance of the Santa Barbara trip?
D4vd’s unexplained overnight trip to a remote part of Santa Barbara County in April 2025 is a major focus because it aligns with the estimated time of death. Cell tower data shows he was alone in an isolated area for five hours with no witnesses. Investigators believe this location may have been used to dispose of evidence — possibly the body or items linked to the crime — before returning to Los Angeles.
Could the Tesla have been planted to frame him?
It’s possible, but unlikely. The Tesla was registered to D4vd, and its VIN matches records from his rental agreement. Investigators have confirmed the car was parked near his residence for weeks before being towed. Forensic teams are analyzing fingerprints, DNA, and vehicle logs — none of which suggest tampering or unauthorized access. The evidence points to the car being used by someone with direct access to it.
How did Celeste Rivas Hernandez disappear for over a year without notice?
Celeste was reported missing in late 2023, but her family initially believed she had run away — a common assumption with teens. She didn’t have a phone, and her social media activity stopped abruptly. Without a clear trail or witnesses, the case went cold until the Tesla discovery. Her body was found nearly 15 months after her last known sighting, highlighting systemic gaps in how missing teen cases are prioritized.
Is this case connected to other unsolved murders in California?
Authorities are reviewing cold cases from Southern California involving dismemberment or vehicle-related homicides since 2022. So far, no direct links have been confirmed. However, the method — plastic wrapping, burning, and concealment — is rare enough that it’s being cataloged as a potential signature. Investigators are now comparing it to a 2021 case in Ventura County, where a 16-year-old girl vanished after attending a music festival.
What happens if D4vd is charged?
If charged, D4vd could face multiple counts, including murder, concealment of a corpse, and evidence tampering. Given the victim’s age and the brutality of the crime, prosecutors may seek life without parole. He would be held without bail unless a judge finds otherwise. His music career would effectively end, and he’d be subject to a high-profile trial — one that could reshape how society views fame, privacy, and accountability.
Written by Griffin Callahan
Hi, I'm Griffin Callahan, a sports enthusiast with a particular expertise in tennis. I've dedicated years to studying the game, both as a player and an analyst. My passion for tennis has led me to write extensively about the sport, covering everything from player profiles to match analyses. I love sharing my knowledge and insights with fellow tennis fans, and I'm always eager to engage in discussions about the sport we all love.
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